In teens with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a specially designed computer-simulated driving program can reduce driving risk by preventing prolonged lane gaze, according to a new study published in ADHD New England Journal of Medicine.
Researchers evaluated a computerized skills training program designed to reduce prolonged gaze away from the road (defined as gaze for more than two seconds) in 16- to 19-year-old drivers with ADHD. The population of interest was randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive a training intervention called an enhanced focus and attention program, or enhanced traditional driver education (control).
The primary endpoint of interest was defined as the number of prolonged glances away from the road during two 15-minute simulated drives at baseline and 1 and 6 months after training. Secondary outcomes were prescribed as rates of prolonged glances and car crashes or near-collisions involving sudden changes in vehicle momentum (g-force events).
According to the results, in the process of simulated driving after training, the intervention group watched an average of 16.5 times per driving at 1 month and 15.7 times per driving at 6 months, while the control group Groups were 28.0 and 27.0 times respectively. The researchers observed that the standard deviation of lane position was 0.98 SD at 1 month and 0.98 SD at 6 months in the intervention group, compared with 1.20 SD and 1.20 SD in the control group. Additionally, the study found that during real-world driving more than a year after training, the intervention group had 18.3 percent of long glances per gravity event, compared with 23.9 percent of the control group.
“In adolescents with ADHD, a specially designed computer-simulated driving program with feedback reduced long fixations away from the lane, resulting in less frequent fixation and less lane position change, compared with a control program. In real-world driving one year after training, the intervention group had lower rates of crashes and near-misses,” the researchers concluded.
