Gehring, K., Sitskoorn, M.M., Gundy, C.M., Sikkes, S.A.M., Klein, M., Postma, T. J., . . . Aaronson, N.K. (2009). Cognitive rehabilitation in patients with gliomas: A randomized, controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 27, 3712–3722.
The study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a multifaceted cognitive rehabilitation program's (CRP's) measures of cognitive functioning in patients with gliomas whose disease was in remission.
An eligibility screening was conducted through
The randomization procedure was a minimization method balancing age, sex, education, tumor grade, hemisphere, radiotherapy, neurosurgery, disease duration, and institution.
The control group received standard care without cognitive intervention, and had contact with research staff at similar intervals as the intervention group. Control participants received a telephone-based empathy session during which attention to possible cognitive problems occurred without the provision of advice. At the study's completion, control participants were offered the opportunity to receive the intervention.
The intervention group received six weekly individual sessions of two hours each, carried out by seven neuropsychologists. Two techniques were incorporated.
Patients were recruited from 11 Dutch hospitals, including 10 neurosurgical centers.
The study utilized a randomized, controlled trial.
Eighty percent of CRP subjects reported that the intervention addressed their problems; 87% used compensation strategies regularly, and 79% indicated a decrease in the impact of cognitive problems on daily functioning. The intervention group had significantly better combined attention scores (in four out of seven tests) than the control group (p = 0.004) at the six-month follow-up. Verbal memory and attention were improved for the intervention group at the six-month follow-up, suggesting the intervention's success with some sustainment in learned skills.
Effect sizes for the CRP ranged from 0.23 to 0.55. The intervention group had significantly better combined scores on verbal memory tests than the control group (p = 0.009). Effect sizes for the intervention group on two of three tests were 0.48 and 0.43. Mental fatigue on the MFI was improved in the intervention group at the six-month follow-up (p = 0.044), with an effect size of 0.41.
Self-reported cognitive function (CFS, CFQ, burden) was better in the intervention group on completion of the CRP (p = 0.001). Effect sizes ranged from 0.31 to 0.48. However, at the six-month follow-up this improvement was maintained, while the control group continued to improve.
There were no significant differences between groups on neuropsychiatric assessment scores at baseline. There were no statistically significant group differences in attention or verbal memory scores at completion of the CRP.
CRP was useful in improving cognitive function, with sustained improvements in verbal memory and attention over time.