On the Road to Recovery After Critical Illness (NCT04272684) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
On the Road to Recovery After Critical Illness
United Kingdom40 participantsStarted 2020-02-26
Plain-language summary
Spending time on intensive care can affect people in many different ways. Ability to move, walk, concentrate and remember events can all be affected. People may find their mood is altered and anxiety, stress and reduced confidence are common. These symptoms are frequently grouped together in a term called 'post intensive care syndrome'. Recovery often takes time and can be challenging.
Returning to driving is an important milestone and can enable individuals to return to important activities such as work and hobbies. As a complex task, driving requires individuals to do many things at once which initially can be demanding. Currently there is limited guidance about driving after a period of time on intensive care.
This study is being carried out to increase understanding of driving difficulties after a stay on intensive care and how successful and safe return to driving can be ensured. It is known that a stay on intensive care can have many effects on the body but currently the best advice to give to patients about returning to drive is unknown. The investigators would like to gather information on how many people do and do not return to driving and the reasons for this so people can be provided with more accurate information in the future. Additionally, it is important to find out if the driving assessment is practical and achievable for individuals who have had a stay on intensive care.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Adult \>18 years
* Severe critical illness and high risk PICS as defined by 72 hours or more of invasive mechanical ventilation in ICU
* Previously driving car in the 12 months prior to admission and currently holds UK category B driving licence (i.e.: car category)
* Able and willing to travel to Carshalton, Surrey and undergo full driving ability assessment and study follow up for a duration of 12 months
* Intention to resume driving, or has already resumed driving
Exclusion Criteria:
* DVLA-confirmed long term driving ineligibility (as per existing DVLA medical guidance)
* Invalid, revoked or expired driving licence
* Deemed unlikely to return to independent living status due to e.g.: severe neurological injury, advanced cancer, progressive/degenerative condition, or other
* High risk of illness recurrence or readmission to hospital
* Social or neuropsychiatric circumstances deemed likely to adversely study participation
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This trial looked at driving ability after a stay in intensive care — given my own ICU experience, do you think I might have the kind of physical or cognitive changes that could affect my driving, and should I be assessed for that?
2The study used a DVLA-approved driving assessment to measure impairments — is that kind of formal driving evaluation something I could access through my recovery care, even though this trial is now completed?
3Post Intensive Care Syndrome can affect memory, concentration, strength, and mood — which of those areas are you most concerned about for me personally, and how might they relate to everyday tasks like driving or returning to work?
4Since this trial has finished and wasn't testing a drug or procedure but rather measuring real-world recovery outcomes, are there findings or recommendations from studies like this one that should shape my rehabilitation plan?
5Are there other recovery programmes or follow-up clinics for people who've been in intensive care that you'd recommend I look into alongside what this research has highlighted?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Incidence of new driving impairments as determined by a DVLA approved driving assessment