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A feasibility study of group cognitive rehabilitation for cancer survivors: enhancing cognitive function and quality of life
Author(s) -
Schuurs Alana,
Green Heather J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.3102
Subject(s) - psychosocial , cognition , quality of life (healthcare) , distress , intervention (counseling) , cognitive rehabilitation therapy , rehabilitation , clinical psychology , cognitive intervention , psychology , medicine , physical therapy , psychiatry , psychotherapist
Objective This research aimed to address the gap in evidence‐based treatment available for cancer survivors who are experiencing cognitive dysfunction, through piloting a novel treatment intervention. The overall research question was whether a group cognitive rehabilitation intervention would be feasible for improving cognitive function and quality of life for people who have completed cancer treatment. Methods Three groups of adults were recruited as follows: an intervention group of 23 cancer survivors who completed a 4‐week group cognitive rehabilitation treatment, a comparison group of nine cancer survivors, and a community sample of 23 adults who had never experienced cancer. Measures of objective and subjective cognitive function, quality of life, psychosocial distress, and illness perceptions were used. The research design was non‐randomised. Results The results indicated that the intervention was effective in improving overall cognitive function, visuospatial/constructional performance, immediate memory, and delayed memory beyond practice effects alone. It was helpful in reducing participants' perceptions of cognitive impairment and psychosocial distress, as well as promoting social functioning and understanding of cognition. The improvements were maintained at 3 months after the intervention. Participants reported a high level of satisfaction with the treatment. Conclusions The results provided evidence for the feasibility of a brief group‐based cognitive rehabilitation intervention to treat cognitive problems experienced by cancer survivors. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.