None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This study aims to look at the effectiveness of rehabilitation for improving prospective memory in everyday life. Prospective memory refers to remembering to carry out things you intend to do in the future, like remembering to attend an appointment or to take medication. Previous research has shown that people with traumatic brain injury often have prospective memory difficulties which can impact on their independent living, social participation and work. Compensatory rehabilitation approaches which involve training people to use a range of strategies to circumvent the problem (i.e. diaries, note-taking, alarms) are successful in improving prospective memory function. However, research has also shown that strategy use and everyday memory performance can be enhanced by using a 'metacognitive' treatment approach designed to improve self-awareness of changes post injury. This study will compare two treatment approaches: a compensatory rehabilitation approach and a compensatory plus metacognitive rehabilitation approach designed to develop self-awareness of prospective memory problems and train strategy use to improve everyday prospective memory function. The study will also explore whether improvements are maintained (3 months and 6 months) after the rehabilitation is finished.
Interventions
The intervention involves metacognitive skills training (0.5 hours) embedded in compensatory strategy training (1.5 hour sessions) each week, for 6 weeks. Compensatory strategy training involves teaching participants how to habitually use external memory aids (e.g. diaries, mobile phones, alarms) and strategies (e.g. note-taking skills, organisational skills) to prevent prospective memory problems. Metacognitive skills training is designed to facilitate the development of self-awareness of imp
The intervention involves metacognitive skills training (0.5 hours) embedded in compensatory strategy training (1.5 hour sessions) each week, for 6 weeks. Compensatory strategy training involves teaching participants how to habitually use external memory aids (e.g. diaries, mobile phones, alarms) and strategies (e.g. note-taking skills, organisational skills) to prevent prospective memory problems. Metacognitive skills training is designed to facilitate the development of self-awareness of impairments, and is combined with compensatory training to ensure the uptake and use of strategies and generalisation of strategy use in everyday life. Metacognitive training techniques include self-evaluation and self-prediction, provision of education, role modelling, and experiential, verbal and video feedback. Treatment manuals have been developed outlining the procedures for compensatory training (COMP) and compensatory plus metacognitive skills training (COMP-MST), based on pilot research. The COMP treatment manual, which was piloted in an earlier study (Shum et al., 2011) has been amended for use in this treatment program to incorporate electronic devices used as compensatory aides (i.e. mobile phones). The MST component of the COMP-MST treatment manual has been developed by the research team. Qualified occupational therapists who are experienced with working with people with brain injury will deliver the intervention program by one-to-one consultation in an outpatient clinic setting. Shum, D., Fleming, J., Gill, H., Gullo, M., & Strong, J. (2011). A randomised controlled trial of prospective memory rehabilitation in adults with traumatic brain injury. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 43, 216-233.
Sponsors
Associate Professor Jenny Fleming
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Participants will be eligible for the study if they (a) are aged between 18 and 65 years; (b) have had a moderate or severe TBI (as determined by GCS score and/or duration of PTA); (c) are in impaired range on the CAMPROMPT on baseline assessment or if prospective memory problems are reported by the patient or their significant other on the BAPM assessment; (d) have adequate receptive and expressive English communication skills; (e) are ambulant or independently mobile in a manual or electric wheelchair; (f) at least one month since discharge from hospital; (g) has a significant other available to participate in the study; (h)no prior brain injury or hypoxic injury; (i) able to attend the hospital for the 6-week intervention program and (j) gives informed consent
Exclusion criteria
Participants will be excluded if (a) they have not emerged from post traumatic amnesia; (b) are confused or disoriented; (c) have communication difficulties limiting comprehension of written or spoken language; or (d) are assessed by their treating occupational therapist as having impairment of cognitive function at a basic level.
Outcome results
None listed