Driving for patients in palliative care–a reality?

OBJECTIVE: Very little is known about car driving in palliative patients. We have asked patients in at home palliative care environments about their driving habits during palliative care. METHODS: At admittance to the palliative care program and at regular visits the patients were asked a few questions about age, diagnosis, sex, driving license, driving, medication and functional status. RESULTS: 23% (40) of our studied patients (173) were still driving, and if we included patients who responded that they would still consider driving, the corresponding figure was 39%. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that the prescribing doctor should be well informed about national driving legislation and be prepared to discuss driving in combination with heavy opioid medication and tranquilizers even with patients in palliative care.