Oral Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

A randomised controlled waitlist trial of a telehealth group cognitive intervention (BRAINS-LaTCH) for people with primary brain tumour   (#81)

Kerryn E Pike 1 2 3 , Sian EB Virtue-Griffiths 1 2 , Carl I Moller 1 4 , Dianne M Legge 5 6 , Mark B Pinkham 7 8 , Dean Vuksanovic 9 , Louise Saliba 10 , Joanne Shaw 11 , Haryana M Dhillon 11
  1. Griffith Centre for Mental Health & School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
  2. Department of Psychology, Counselling & Therapy, School of Psychology & Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Vic, Australia
  3. John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research, La Trobe University, Wodonga, Vic, Australia
  4. The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), School of Medicine, , Deakin University, Melbourne, Vic, Australia
  5. Oliva Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre, Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Vic, Australia
  6. Curtin School of Nursing/ Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
  7. Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
  8. University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
  9. Department of Psychology, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
  10. Monash Health, Clayton, Vic, Australia
  11. Psycho-Oncology Cooperative Research Group, School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Background: Cognitive changes are common following primary brain tumour (PBT), impacting employment, independence, relationships, and quality of life (QOL). Despite this, tailored interventions are largely unavailable in Australia. The La Trobe and Caulfield Hospital (LaTCH) cognitive rehabilitation group has demonstrated efficacy in older adults without PBT.  

Aims: To examine the efficacy of LaTCH adapted for people with PBT (BRAINS-LaTCH), delivered by telehealth to increase access.

Methods: We used a Type 1 hybrid implementation design randomised controlled trial (RCT) with a waitlist control (WLC). Adults >3-months post-PBT diagnosis, and >1-month post-radiation therapy, from healthcare services and community groups across Australia were randomised to: i) Intervention [6-week group sessions; 2 hours/week] delivered over Zoom (n=3-7/group); or, ii) WLC and intervention offered at 16 weeks. Primary outcome was self-perceived cognitive function; secondary outcomes included: QOL, fatigue, mood, and objective cognition (attention, working memory, processing speed, memory, executive function). Between group differences post-intervention and 6 weeks later (maintenance) were analysed using linear mixed models.

Results: Sixty participants (M age =49.0, SD=10.4 years, 57% female, 55% high-grade) were randomised; 29 intervention, 31 WLC. The intervention group participants reported significantly improved self-reported memory ability, satisfaction, strategy use, and strategy knowledge post-intervention compared to WLC. Effect sizes were moderate to large (ηp2 range 0.06 – 0.21) and were maintained for memory ability (t = 4.26, p < .001, ηp2 = 0.18), memory satisfaction (t = 2.23, p = .028, ηp2 = 0.18), and memory strategy knowledge (t = 2.92, p = .004, ηp2 = 0.09). There was no intervention effect on secondary outcomes.

Conclusions: Our findings indicate BRAINS-LaTCH delivered via telehealth improved memory-related outcomes in people with PBT. Benefits were maintained after the intervention was completed. Despite the lack of improvement in objectively measure cognition, this intervention should be offered to people with PBT self-reporting memory decline.