Abstract Background Cognitive changes are common following primary brain tumour (PBT), impacting employment, independence, relationships, and quality of life (QoL). Despite this, tailored cognitive interventions are unavailable within Australia. The La Trobe and Caulfield Hospital (LaTCH) group cognitive rehabilitation program has demonstrated efficacy for older adults without PBT. Efficacy for people with PBT was examined using a telehealth adaption of LaTCH. Methods A Type 1 hybrid-implementation design randomised controlled trial (RCT) with waitlist control (WLC) was used. Adults 3-months post-PBT diagnosis, and 1-month post-radiation were randomised to: i) Intervention 6-week group sessions; 2 hours/week, delivered over Zoom (n=3-7/group); or, ii) WLC (intervention offered at 16 weeks). Primary outcomes were self-perceived memory (ability, strategy knowledge and use, satisfaction) and general cognitive function; secondary outcomes included: QoL, fatigue, mood, and objective cognition (attention, working memory, processing speed, memory, executive function). Linear mixed models analysed between-group differences post-intervention and 6-weeks later (maintenance). Results Sixty participants (M(SD)age =49.0 (10.4) years, 57% female, 55% high-grade glioma) were randomised; (29 intervention, 31 WLC). The intervention group reported significantly improved perceived memory ability, satisfaction, strategy use, and strategy knowledge. Effect sizes were moderate-large (ηp2 0.06 – 0.21), and maintained for memory ability (t =4.26, p .001, ηp2 =0.18), satisfaction (t =2.23, p =.028, ηp2 = 0.18), and strategy knowledge (t =2.92, p =.004, ηp2 =0.09). Secondary outcomes exhibited no intervention effect. Conclusions Telehealth-delivered LaTCH-BRAINS improved subjective memory-related outcomes for people with PBT, demonstrating promise as a cognitive rehabilitation approach for people with PBT reporting memory decline.
Pike et al. (Wed,) studied this question.