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Vofo BN, Ayuk DA, Pe'er J, Chichom-Mefire A, Tendongfor N, Nche EN. Visual assessment of commercial drivers in the South West Region of Cameroon. BMC Ophthalmol 2021; 21:148. [PMID: 33757436 PMCID: PMC7986018 DOI: 10.1186/s12886-021-01909-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Driving is a visually intensive task. In Cameroon, where the burden of road traffic deaths is high, visual assessment is not universally performed before the issuance of driver licenses. This study aims to assess the visual status of commercial drivers (CDs) in the southwestern region of Cameroon, and to find its relation to road traffic crashes (RTCs). METHODS This work was a cross-sectional community-based study on CDs in Limbe and Buea. Questionnaires were used to assess sociodemographic parameters, the incidence of RTCs, and self-reported visual status. Visual acuity (VA) was measured using a standard Snellen chart at 6 m. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive methods: frequencies, the paired Student's t-test, and the chi-square test. RESULTS Two hundred seven CDs were enrolled in this study, all of which were male, with a mean age of 41.8 ± 12.1 years. A total of 15.0% had undergone an eye exam prior to licensure, and 3.4% had undergone an eye exam within the past 10 years. The VA in the better-seeing eye of participants was less than 6/9 and 6/12 in 14.1 and 10.6% of CDs, respectively. Seventy-five percent of CDs with self-reported poor vision and 95% of CDs with VA < 0.5 had a history of RTCs compared to 55.8% of CDs with self-reported good vision and 55.7% of CDs with VA ≥ 0.5 (p < 0.05). Injuries from RTCs were more common in CDs with self-reported poor vision (81.1%) and in those with VA < 0.5 (90.5%) compared to CDs who self-reported good vision (55.8%) and those with VA ≥ 0.5 (55.7%) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS A large proportion of CDs did not undergo a visual assessment before the issuance or renewal of their driver licenses. A substantial number of CDs had poor vision in their better-seeing eye and suffered from RTCs and related injuries, which suggests that the visual status of CDs in Cameroon is related to the gruesome number of road traffic crashes and deaths in the country. Therefore, concerned authorities should consider making vision tests a necessary requirement for the obtention of driver licenses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brice Nguedia Vofo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, POB 12000, 91120, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Doris Ako Ayuk
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Jacob Pe'er
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, POB 12000, 91120, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Alain Chichom-Mefire
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Nicholas Tendongfor
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Eleanor Ngwe Nche
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, POB 12000, 91120, Jerusalem, Israel.
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Aglan M, Adawi A. Incidence of Substance Abuse Among Cab-drivers Involved in Non Fatal Accidents. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.3923/tmr.2016.20.27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Lemaire-Hurtel AS, Goullé JP, Alvarez JC, Mura P, Verstraete AG. [Drug use and driving]. Presse Med 2015; 44:1055-63. [PMID: 25956300 DOI: 10.1016/j.lpm.2015.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 03/05/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Some drugs are known to impair driving because they can change the vision or hearing, and/or disrupt the intellectual or motor abilities: impaired vigilance, sedation, disinhibition effect, the coordination of movement disorders and the balance. The doctor during prescribing and the pharmacist during deliverance of drug treatment should inform their patients of the potential risks of drugs on driving or operating machinery. The driver has direct responsibility, who hired him and him alone, to follow the medical advice received. The pictograms on the outer packaging of medicinal products intended to classify substances according to their risk driving: The driver can whether to observe simple precautions (level one "be prudent"), or follow the advice of a health professional (level two "be very careful"), or if it is totally not drive (level three "danger caution: do not drive"). This classification only evaluates the intrinsic danger of drugs but not the individual variability. Medicines should be taken into account also the conditions for which the medication is prescribed. It is important to inform the patient on several points.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Sophie Lemaire-Hurtel
- CHU d'Amiens, laboratoire de pharmacologie et toxicologie, centre de biologie humaine, 80054 Amiens, France.
| | - Jean-Pierre Goullé
- Faculté de médecine et de pharmacie de Rouen, laboratoire de toxicologie, 76000 Rouen, France
| | - Jean-Claude Alvarez
- CHU de Garches, laboratoire de pharmacologie et toxicologie, 92380 Garches, France
| | - Patrick Mura
- CHU de Poitiers, laboratoire de pharmacologie et toxicologie, 86021 Poitiers, France
| | - Alain G Verstraete
- Hôpital universitaire de Gand, laboratoire de biologie clinique, université de Gand département de biologie clinique, microbiologie et immunologie, 9000 Gand, Belgique
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Assari S, Moghani Lankarani M, Dejman M, Farnia M, Alasvand R, Sehat M, Roshanpazooh M, Tavakoli M, Jafari F, Ahmadi K. Drug Use among Iranian Drivers Involved in Fatal Car Accidents. Front Psychiatry 2014; 5:69. [PMID: 25221521 PMCID: PMC4148638 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2013] [Accepted: 05/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although the problem of substance use among drivers is not limited to certain parts of the world, most epidemiological reports on this topic have been published from industrial world. AIM To investigate pattern of drug use among Iranian drivers who were involved in fatal road accidents. METHODS This study enrolled 51 Iranian adults who were involved in fatal vehicle accidents and were imprisoned thereafter. Data came from a national survey of drug abuse that was done among Iranian prisoners. The survey collected data at the entry to seven prisons in different regions of the country during a 4-month period in 2008. Self-reported lifetime, last year, and last month drug use was measured. Commercial substance screening tests were applied to detect recent substance use (opioids, cannabinoids, methamphetamines, and benzodiazepines). RESULTS The commercial substance screening test showed three distinct patterns of recent illicit drug use: opioids (37.3%), cannabinoids (2.0%), opioids and cannabinoids (13.7%). 29.4% were also positive for benzodiazepines. The substance use screening test detected 23.5% of participants who had used drugs but did not disclose any substance use. CONCLUSION Opioids are the most common illicit drugs being used by Iranian drivers who are involved in fatal car accidents. The high rate of substance use prior to fatal car accidents in Iran advocates for the need for drug use control policies and programs as major strategies for injury prevention in Iran. There is also a need for substance screening among all drivers involved in fatal car accidents in Iran, as more than 20% of users may not disclose substance use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shervin Assari
- Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture and Health, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Social Determinants of Health Research Centre, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Moghani Lankarani
- Universal Network for Health Information Dissemination and Exchange (UNHIDE), Tehran, Iran
- Medicine and Health Promotion Institute, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Dejman
- Social Determinants of Health Research Centre, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Marzieh Farnia
- Health and Treatment Bureau of Iran Prisons Organization, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ramin Alasvand
- Health and Treatment Bureau of Iran Prisons Organization, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahmood Sehat
- Universal Network for Health Information Dissemination and Exchange (UNHIDE), Tehran, Iran
- Medicine and Health Promotion Institute, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohsen Roshanpazooh
- Universal Network for Health Information Dissemination and Exchange (UNHIDE), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahmood Tavakoli
- Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Firoozeh Jafari
- Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Khodabakhsh Ahmadi
- Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Mo F, Neutel IC, Morrison H, Hopkins D, Da Silva C, Jiang Y. A cohort study for the impact of activity-limiting injuries based on the Canadian National Population Health Survey 1994-2006. BMJ Open 2013; 3:bmjopen-2012-002052. [PMID: 23491751 PMCID: PMC3612820 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2012-002052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the prevalence and factors affecting activity-limiting injuries (ALI) in individuals and in the Canadian population; to estimate the short and long term impact on health status and well-being because of ALI in Canada from 1994 to 2006 using the Canadian National Population Health Survey (NPHS). DESIGN The NPHS is a randomised longitudinal cohort study with biennial interviews, with information on age, sex, education, marital status, income, residence, height and weight to self-perceived health status, healthcare utilisation and medication use in addition to ALI. SETTING The study population was a random sample of male and female participants 20 years and older from 10 provinces and three territories in Canada. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Logistic regression models were used to assess the potential impact of ALI on individuals and on the Canadian population. The interviews 2 years before and 2 years after the ALI were compared to examine long-term effects, and the McNemar test option in SAS was used for the matched analysis. RESULTS The immediate impacts of ALI were pain, disability and disruption of regular life. Long-term effects in patients were chronic pain and increased medical doctor visits. Population impact included a considerable increase in healthcare access and cost. The odds ratios (OR) for the 20-39 age group compared with those 60+ was 2.2; 95% CI 1.8 to 2.7, while the OR associated with male participants was 1.4; 95% CI 1.1 to 1.6. Individuals consuming nine or more alcoholic drinks per week were also significantly more likely to report an ALI (OR, 1.5; 95% CI 1.3 to 1.8). CONCLUSIONS The findings from this study illustrated the immediate and long-term impact of individuals and population level injuries in Canada. Injury control policies should aim to prevent the number of injuries, fatalities as well as the consequences among survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Mo
- Public Health Agency of Canada, Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Consumer Product Safety and Injury Risk Assessment Program Working Group, Science Integration Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ineke C Neutel
- Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Howard Morrison
- Public Health Agency of Canada, Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Consumer Product Safety and Injury Risk Assessment Program Working Group, Science Integration Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Doug Hopkins
- Public Health Agency of Canada, Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Consumer Product Safety and Injury Risk Assessment Program Working Group, Science Integration Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Caroline Da Silva
- Public Health Agency of Canada, Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Consumer Product Safety and Injury Risk Assessment Program Working Group, Science Integration Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ying Jiang
- Public Health Agency of Canada, Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Consumer Product Safety and Injury Risk Assessment Program Working Group, Science Integration Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Daignault P, Delhomme P. Attitudes des jeunes automobilistes à l’égard des principales actions contre l’insécurité routière en France. PRAT PSYCHOL 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prps.2009.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Abstract
Fourteen states and the District of Columbia have legalized the use of cannabis for medical purposes. A small, high-quality literature supports the efficacy of medical cannabis for the treatment of neuropathic pain. The smoked botanical product, however, is associated with a number of adverse medical and psychiatric consequences. Furthermore, experimental data indicate that acute use of cannabis results in impairment of every important metric related to the safe operation of a motor vehicle. Epidemiological data show associations between recent cannabis use and both psychomotor impairment and motor vehicle crashes, associations that are strengthened by the concomitant use of alcohol and other central nervous system depressants. Finally, data from pain clinics reveals an unusually high prevalence of cannabis use in nearly all age groups and an association between cannabis use and opioid and other substance misuse. Based on available data and expert opinion, concomitant use of cannabis and opioids is an absolute contraindication to the operation of a motor vehicle. In patients who use cannabis and are prescribed opioids, heightened vigilance for opioid- and other substance-related problems is warranted. It is appropriate to refrain from prescribing opioids to individuals using medical cannabis if there is reasonable suspicion that the combination will pose a risk to the patient or others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary M Reisfield
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0256, USA.
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