Validation of cognitive rehabilitation program adapted to the needs of adults with brain cancer and adult survivors of childhood brain cancer.
Project Overview
We propose a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of Goal Management Training (GMT) for improving these patients’ cognitive functioning as well as patient and caregiver QoL. With Brain Canada support, we will adapt GMT to adults diagnosed with brain cancer and to adult survivors of childhood brain cancer, allowing us to compare efficacy across groups at different stages of survivorship and with different degrees of cognitive impairment. To isolate specific and generalized treatment effects we will compare outcomes for patient groups receiving either: GMT (an ED-targeted, individualized cognitive rehabilitation program, adapted for brain cancer survivors); placebo (a brain education program, adapted from prior GMT studies); or standard care (minimal education and no rehabilitation). Based on prior research and power analyses, we will include 18 participants from each patient group (adult- or child-onset brain cancers) in each of the 3 treatment conditions. We will assess pre-to-post change using a multilevel battery including standardized tests of cognitive functioning, real-life functional capacity, and QoL in both patients and their caregivers, with a six-month follow-up to evaluate longer-term treatment effects. This design will also allow longitudinal study of naturalistic cognitive change over time for patients in the standard care group.
Principal Investigator
Nadine Richard , University Health Network
Partners and Donors
CIBC