Low uptake of driver refresher courses by older adults: An examination of potential explanatory variables using the Candrive cohort

Older drivers benefit from driver refresher courses, particularly courses with on-road training. Yet, the uptake of these courses and the factors associated with taking them is poorly documented. We used data from the Candrive prospective cohort (N = 928) to examine these issues using variables representing sociodemographic factors (e.g., age), health-related factors (e.g., medical conditions), and driving-related factors (e.g., driving comfort). The outcome variable was operationalized as having taken a non-mandatory refresher course in the last 10 years or never. Participants’ mean age was 76.21 (SD = 4.85) and 576 (62.1 %) were males. Ninety-eight participants (10.6 %) reported having taken a non-mandatory refresher course within the last 10 years, and less than half of those reported that it included an on-road component. Only nine percent of participants had discussed driving with a physician. The multivariable regression model (N = 746; −2 log likelihood = 515.10, p < .001, Nagelkerke R 2 = 0.12) identified five variables as statistically significant. The odds of having taken a course were higher with age (OR = 1.53, 95 % CI = 1.23, 1.92), when one’s driving was perceived as important for others (OR = 1.87, 95 % CI = 1.26, 2.80), and for participants who spoke to their family (OR = 1.80, 95 % CI = 1.04, 3.09) or to a physician about driving (OR = 2.24, 95 % CI = 1.15, 4.36); the odds were lower for those who benefited the most personally from driving (OR = 0.64, 95 % CI = 0.51, 0.82). The uptake of driver refresher courses is low and few discussions about driving took place with physicians. Further research is needed to understand the barriers and facilitators related to older drivers’ involvement in refresher courses. • Among a sample of Canadian older drivers, less than 30 % reported having ever taken a non-mandatory refresher course. • Age and the importance of driving are associated with the odds of having taken a refresher course. • Few drivers discussed driving with family/physicians, but these discussions are associated with taking a refresher course.