The Rookwood Driving Battery: Normative Older Adult Performance

This study aimed to obtain older adult normative data on a neuropsychological battery in relation to functions underlying driving ability. The effect of age on performance on the battery was previously unknown; normative data revision was necessary to enable more appropriate use of the battery with older clients. A cross-sectional cohort study design was used. Volunteers were sought from among healthy older people living independently in the community to complete the Rookwood Driving Battery. 202 volunteers aged 70+ were recruited from local social groups to complete the battery. Of these, 184 completed a screening test of cognitive integrity (Mini Mental State Examination, MMSE). Results of the MMSE indicated that 161 (87.5%) of the group fell above a cut-off (25/30) typically used in epidemiological studies to identify age-related cognitive decline. Of these cognitively intact volunteers, performance was marked by higher battery error scores (mean=5.12, SD=3.75) than those observed in an earlier normative study using younger volunteers below 70 years of age (mean=1.41, SD=1.87). The 2 age groups differed significantly on all 10 battery subtests; in all cases the level of significance was .002 or less; for 9 subtests, significance fell below .001. In the intact older group, battery performance was observed to be closely related to score on the MMSE, a test of general cognitive integrity (r=.558, p=.01). Performance on the Rookwood Battery differs for the over 70s and under 70s. The authors suggest essential modifications in its use with older people.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01446657
• Authors:
  • Rees, Janice
  • McKenna, Pat
  • Bell, Vaughan
  • Skucek, Emily
  • Nichols, E
  • Fisher, P
• Publication Date: 2008-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 139-151
• Serial:
  • British Journal of Clinical Psychology
  • Volume: 47
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: British Psychological Society
  • ISSN: 0144-6657

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged drivers; Automobile driving; Human factors; Physiological aspects; Psychological aspects
• Uncontrolled Terms: Neuropsychological assessment
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01109653
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 25 2008 8:50AM