Epilepsy patients consider driving issues to be one of their most serious concerns.
Ideally, decisions regarding fitness to drive should be based upon thorough evaluations
by specialists in epilepsy care. In 2009, an EU directive was published aiming to
harmonize evaluation practices within European countries, but, despite these recommendations,
whether all epileptologists use the same criteria is unclear. We therefore conducted
this study to investigate routine practices on how epileptologists at European epilepsy
centers evaluate fitness to drive.A questionnaire was sent to 63 contact persons identified
through the European Epi-Care and the E-pilepsy network. The questionnaire addressed
how fitness-to-drive evaluations were conducted, the involvement of different professionals,
the use and interpretation of EEG, and opinions on existing regulations and guidelines.The
questionnaire was completed by 35 participants (56 % response rate). Results showed
considerable variation regarding test routines and the emphasis placed on the occurrence
and extent of epileptiform discharges revealed by EEG. 82 % of the responders agreed
that there was a need for more research on how to better evaluate fitness-to-drive
in people with epilepsy, and 89 % agreed that regulations on fitness to drive evaluations
should be internationally coordinated.Our survey showed considerable variations among
European epileptologists regarding use of EEG and how findings of EEG pathology should
be assessed in fitness-to-drive evaluations. There is a clear need for more research
on this issue and international guidelines on how such evaluations should be carried
out would be of value.
