Is an application form useful to select patients with epilepsy who may drive?

Epilepsia. 1975 Dec;16(5):743-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1975.tb04759.x.

Abstract

Of 1,268 persons who claimed to have epilepsy and were therefore disqualified for military service, 55% had a driving license 5 years later. Only 58% had applied for a driving license. Of those 14% who had answered truthfully the question "have you had fits, epilepsy etc." in the application form, 63% received a license. Fewer persons with epilepsy had a driving license after about 5 years (55%) than did age-matched controls (73%). The application form is of no use in preventing persons with epilepsy from obtaining a driving license. Adequate instruction of the patient and of his physician is to be preferred to the use of an application form.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Automobile Driver Examination*
  • Epilepsy / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Military Medicine
  • Netherlands
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*