Abstract

Background and Aim. In Estonia, general practitioners play a key role in assessing patients’ health for motor vehicle driving. However, legislation does not mandate reassessment of medical certificates after serious health events, which allows individuals to continue driving even when their abilities may be impaired. This study aimed to explore general practitioners’ attitudes and practices in assessing patients’ health for motor vehicle driving following changes in various health conditions, and to provide recommendations to improve assessment for organizational process.
Methods. The sample consisted of general practitioners working in Estonia. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data were examined through inductive content analysis.
Results. From the responses of 78 general practitioners, it emerged that although most consider the assessment of health important and conduct it after a more serious health incident, the medical certificate is rarely suspended. General practitioners feel competent in conducting the assessments, but most express a need for additional training and report uncertainty in the assessment process and in making decisions. Assessment practices are inconsistent, relying on different tests and clinical experience. The need for additional information is considerable, yet information flow is fragmented and often informal. Most general practitioners consider it necessary to have a digital solution that would support the decision‑making process and improve collaboration with other specialists.

Conclusions. Although general practitioners consider assessment of health for driving important, unclear guidelines, legal constraints, and fragmented information hinder decision‑making. A unified assessment framework, a digital notification system, and improved collaboration between specialists are needed to ensure a safer and more consistent process.