TY - JOUR AU - Keay Lisa AU - Coxon K. AU - Clarke E. AU - Brown J. AU - Rogers K. AU - Fong C. AB -

AIM: Good seat belt fit and positioning is important for crash protection. Older drivers experience problems in achieving good seat belt fit and often reposition seat belts and/or use seat cushions. Comfort influences these behaviours. This work examines the impact of functional morbidities on belt positioning and accessory use and whether comfort mediates this relationship METHODS: Mediation analysis was used to examine the relationship between morbidities affecting physical function, comfort, belt repositions and seat cushion use among 380 drivers aged 75 years and older. RESULTS: Musculoskeletal morbidities increase the likelihood of seat belt repositioning (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.12-1.67) and comfort partially mediates this relationship (P = 0.03). Morbidities of any type also increase the likelihood of seat cushion use (OR 1.15 95% CI 1.04-1.27), but comfort plays no role in this relationship (P = 0.87). CONCLUSION: Greater awareness among older drivers is needed, to ensure behavioural modifications do not impair their crash protection.

AD - NeuRA Injury Prevention Research Centre, Neuroscience Research Australia; and School of Medical Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Injury Division, The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney; and Sydney School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Injury Division, The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. AN - 27473026 BT - Australas J Ageing CN - [IF]: 0.678 DP - NLM ET - 2016/07/31 LA - Eng LB - AUS
INJ
FY17 N1 - Brown, Julie
Coxon, Kristy
Fong, Cameron
Clarke, Elizabeth
Rogers, Kris
Keay, Lisa
Australas J Ageing. 2016 Jul 30. doi: 10.1111/ajag.12349. N2 -

AIM: Good seat belt fit and positioning is important for crash protection. Older drivers experience problems in achieving good seat belt fit and often reposition seat belts and/or use seat cushions. Comfort influences these behaviours. This work examines the impact of functional morbidities on belt positioning and accessory use and whether comfort mediates this relationship METHODS: Mediation analysis was used to examine the relationship between morbidities affecting physical function, comfort, belt repositions and seat cushion use among 380 drivers aged 75 years and older. RESULTS: Musculoskeletal morbidities increase the likelihood of seat belt repositioning (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.12-1.67) and comfort partially mediates this relationship (P = 0.03). Morbidities of any type also increase the likelihood of seat cushion use (OR 1.15 95% CI 1.04-1.27), but comfort plays no role in this relationship (P = 0.87). CONCLUSION: Greater awareness among older drivers is needed, to ensure behavioural modifications do not impair their crash protection.

PY - 2016 SN - 1741-6612 (Electronic)
1440-6381 (Linking) T2 - Australas J Ageing TI - Seat belt repositioning and use of vehicle seat cushions is increased among older drivers aged 75 years and older with morbidities Y2 - FY17 ER -