Advancing Understanding of Transportation Options
Decision Making Among Older Adults: the AUTO Study
What it found
Results are posted in the registry, but without a statistical test of the main measure. See the numbers below.
What was tested
Treatment tested
- Driving Decision Aid
Compared with
- Older Drivers Website
Results by group
Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) Scores at Day 0 (Post-intervention)
Day 0 (Post-intervention)
| Group | Value | Interval | Number analysed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Older Drivers Website | 15.2 units on a scale | 13.3 (Standard Deviation) | 148 |
| Driving Decision Aid | 12.3 units on a scale | 12.9 (Standard Deviation) | 145 |
Older Drivers Website
Driving Decision Aid
Values as posted on ClinicalTrials.gov. Outcomes measured differently across trials are not directly comparable.
Safety
| Group | Participants at risk | Serious adverse events | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Older Drivers Website | 267 | 3 (1.1%) | 4 |
| Driving Decision Aid | 262 | 4 (1.5%) | 5 |
As posted on ClinicalTrials.gov. Serious adverse events include any serious health event during the trial, whether or not the treatment caused it.
What it measured
Main measures
Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) Scores at Day 0 (Post-intervention)
Day 0 (Post-intervention)
Other measures (10)
Values Clarity Subscale Score at Day 0 (Post-intervention)
Day 0 (Post-intervention)
Older Adult Driving Safety Knowledge Scores as Assessed by True/False Questions at Day 0 (Post-intervention)
Day 0 (Post-intervention)
SafetyDecision Self Efficacy Score at Day 0 (Post-intervention)
Day 0 (Post-intervention)
Change in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) 4-item Depression Score
6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months
Mood and sleepQuality of life (reported by participants)Change in Ottawa Decision Regret Score
12 months, 18 months, 24 months
Quality of life (reported by participants)Change in Life Space Score
6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months
Walking and mobilityChange in Self-reported Driving Frequency
6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months
Change in Self-reported Situational Driving Avoidance
6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months
Bladder, bowel and sexual functionOccurrence of Driving Cessation
6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months
Occurrence of Self-reported Crashes
6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months
Who could take part
MS (type not specified) · 18 and over
Show the full criteria
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria for drivers: * 70 years or older * Fluent in English * At least one medical condition linked in driving cessation * Drive at least one time per week * Have a study partner* (*drivers interested in participating in the study without a study partner will be placed on a wait list; they may be contacted as a later date for enrollment once 200 driver-study partner dyads have been enrolled across all sites) * 5-minute MoCA score greater or equal to 21 Exclusion Criteria for drivers: * In legal custody or institutionalized * Significant cognitive impairment as measured by 5-minute Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) * Since the last time they had their license renewed, has had at least one major change to health, vision, or hearing that has seriously impaired driving (based on potential participant self-report) * Feels the Department of Motor Vehicles would have serious concerns about their driving (based on potential participant self-report) Inclusion Criteria for study partners: * 18 years or older * Fluent in English * Identified by Driver participant to contact for potential participation, i.e., part of a driver-study partner dyad * 5-minute MoCA score greater or equal to 21 Exclusion Criteria for study partners: * In legal custody or institutionalized * Significant cognitive impairment as measured by 5-minute Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
Exclusion criteria
Not separately supplied in the registry.
As registered. Criteria can change, so ask the trial team or your neurologist.
About this trial
In the sponsor's words
This Stage II randomized, controlled, longitudinal trial seeks to assess the acceptability, feasibility, and effects of a driving decision aid use among geriatric patients and providers. This multi-site trial will (1) test the driving decision aid (DDA) in improving decision making and quality (knowledge, decision conflict, values concordance and behavior intent); and (2) determine its effects on specific subpopulations of older drivers (stratified for cognitive function, decisional capacity, and attitudinally readiness for a mobility transition). The overarching hypotheses are that the DDA will help older adults make high-quality decisions, which will mitigate the negative psychosocial impacts of driving reduction, and that optimal DDA use will target certain populations and settings.
Papers
Results
An online driving decision aid for older drivers reduces ambivalence and regret about driving decisions: Randomized trial.J Am Geriatr Soc · 2025
Results
Internal Factors that Influence Coping in Older Drivers' Transition to Non-Driving.J Appl Gerontol · 2025
Results
Relationship of Decisional Conflict About Driving Habits Between Older Adult Drivers and Their Family Members and Close Friends.J Appl Gerontol · 2024
Results
"Is it time to stop driving?": A randomized clinical trial of an online decision aid for older drivers.J Am Geriatr Soc · 2022
Results
Betz ME, Omeragic F, Meador L, DiGuiseppi CG, Fowler NR, Han SD, Hill L, Johnson RL, Knoepke CE, Matlock DD, Moran R; AUTO Research Team. The Advancing Understanding of Transportation Options (AUTO) study: design and methods of a multi-center study of decision aid for older drivers. Inj Epidemiol. 2021 May 3;8(1):23. doi: 10.1186/s40621-021-00310-4.
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History
Started
Dec 2019
Main results due
Jun 2023
Finished
Dec 2023
Results posted
Feb 2025