Cognitive Retraining and Functional Treatment (CRAFT) for adults with cancer related cognitive impairment: a preliminary efficacy study

Talia Maeir; Chen Makranz; Tamar Peretz; Ester Odem; Shani Tsabari; Mor Nahum; Yafit Gilboa

doi:10.1007/s00520-023-07611-y

Cognitive Retraining and Functional Treatment (CRAFT) for adults with cancer related cognitive impairment: a preliminary efficacy study

Support Care Cancer. 2023 Feb 7;31(3):152. doi: 10.1007/s00520-023-07611-y.

Authors

Talia Maeir¹, Chen Makranz², Tamar Peretz^{3

4}, Ester Odem^{1

5}, Shani Tsabari², Mor Nahum¹, Yafit Gilboa⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91240, Jerusalem, Israel.
² Department of Neurology and Oncology, The Gaffin Center for Neuro-Oncology, Sharett Institute for Oncology, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Jerusalem, Israel.
³ Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
⁴ Sharett Oncology Institute, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
⁵ Meshi Center, Bnei Brak, Israel.
⁶ School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91240, Jerusalem, Israel. yafit.gilboa@mail.huji.ac.il.

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the preliminary efficacy of Cognitive Retraining and Functional Treatment (CRAFT) combining remote computerized cognitive training (CCT) and occupation-based treatment in adults with cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI).

Methods: Three-armed randomized controlled trial including 74 individuals with CRCI, randomized into 12 weeks of either CRAFT, CCT alone, or treatment-as-usual. Assessments evaluating participation in daily life, perceived cognition, cognitive performance, quality-of-life, and treatment satisfaction were administered at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up.

Results: Significant time × group interactions in favor of the CRAFT and CCT groups were found for participation in daily life (F_2,34 = 5.31, p = .01, eta = .238), perceived cognition (F_2,34 = 4.897, p = .014, eta = .224), and cognitive performance on speed of processing test (F = 5.678, p = .009, eta = .289). The CRAFT group demonstrated significantly larger clinically meaningful gains on participation in daily life (chi-square = 6.91, p = .032) and significantly higher treatment satisfaction. All treatment gains were maintained at a 3-month follow-up (n = 32).

Conclusions: CCT and CRAFT were found to have a positive impact on participation and cognitive outcomes among individuals with CRCI. The CRAFT showed an additional advantage in improving self-chosen occupation-based goals suggesting that a combination of cognitive training with occupation-based intervention has a positive synergistic effect resulting in "real world" health benefits.

Implications for cancer survivors: A combination of cognitive training with occupation-based intervention has a positive effect resulting in clinically meaningful improvements in participation in daily life, objective cognitive performance, and subjective cognitive impairment.

Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04210778, December 26, 2019, retrospectively registered.

Keywords: Cognitive rehabilitation; Computerized cognitive training; Functional cognition; Participation; Randomized control trial; Telehealth.

MeSH terms

Adult
Cognition
Cognition Disorders* / therapy
Cognitive Dysfunction* / etiology
Cognitive Dysfunction* / therapy
Humans
Neoplasms* / complications
Neoplasms* / therapy

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT04210778

Abstract

MeSH terms

Associated data

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