Testing a Group Memory Training Program for People With Brain Injuries
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Memory training.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Acquired Brain Injury (Including Stroke). Basic parameters: 18 years — 75 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Norway
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Evaluating the Feasibility and Effectiveness of a Group-Based Memory Rehabilitation Program for Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Patients
Overview
The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of a 6-week group-based memory training program for individuals experiencing memory problems after acquired brain injury (ABI). Memory impairment is a prevalent consequence of neurological disorders like stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), anoxia, brain tumours, or brain infections, collectively termed acquired brain injury (ABI). While memory rehabilitation has shown promise in improving cognitive function in ABI patients, individualised treatments can be resource-intensive and not readily accessible to all in need. The program "Group-Based Memory Rehabilitation to Improve Memory for Everyday Tasks" offers an evidence-based, group-based intervention. Previous studies have demonstrated its efficacy in enhancing everyday memory function, including increased use of memory strategies, achievement of memory-related goals, and improvements in learning ability, both in the subacute and chronic phase post-injury. Furthermore, recent investigations have shown comparable efficacy when delivering the program through telehealth platforms (video conferencing). The investigators have meticulously translated and adapted the memory program to suit Norwegian conditions. As far as the investigators are aware, this is the first time the program has undergone translation and adaptation for Norwegian speakers. This study aims to evaluate the memory program's feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness in a Norwegian context, aiming to support its implementation in local health services. Both physical face-to-face groups as well as telehealth delivery through videoconferencing will be evaluated. Telehealth delivery will be utilised to overcome geographical barriers and enhance accessibility for patients residing in rural or remote areas in Northern Norway, where rehabilitation services are recognized as an unmet need. A total of five groups will be run during 2025 and 2026. Three of the three groups will be digital via videoconferencing.
Detailed description
This manualized, group-based memory intervention involves six weekly, two-hour sessions (including a break). Group sizes should be from 3 to 10 participants, as recommended by the developers, with two group leaders (psychologists/neuropsychologists). Each session encompasses education about memory and factors influencing optimal memory function, and training in the use of compensatory memory strategies (both internal strategies and external memory aids). Group exercises and discussions, as well as homework tasks between sessions, are used to facilitate learning and generalisation of memory skills. The two-hour sessions are divided into approximately 15 minutes for reviewing homework and repetition from previous sessions; 20-30 minutes for the educational component; 60-80 minutes for practising strategies and discussing their application; 10 minutes for a break. Full details of the memory intervention, including instructional guidelines, description of exercises, handouts and supporting materials, can be found in the published manual.
The memory training program will constitute a new treatment intervention in the health region of Northern Norway, and the need to carry out feasibility studies as part of the development of complex interventions has been pointed out. Hence, the objective of this study is to identify and evaluate obstacles to delivery and implementation of the program through a feasibility and acceptability study. Effectiveness of the intervention will depend on sufficient feasibility, and will also be evaluated.
The study has two aims. First, the investigators aim to explore the feasibility of delivering the intervention, and the patients acceptability of the intervention, in order to achieve optimal efficacy.
Second, the investigators will explore the effectiveness of the memory training program on participants' memory functioning.
Research question 1 What is the feasibility of the intervention, considering a) the demand for the treatment as assessed through a) Recruitment, b) Adherence, c) Acceptability by participants, and d) Format of delivery.
Research question 2 Does a group-based 6 week memory training program improve objective and subjective memory functioning in individuals with memory complaints after ABI? The aim of the program is to enhance memory functioning on one or more measures of subjective and objective memory, number of memory strategies used in daily life, and/or personal goal attainment.
Interventions
- Behavioral Memory training
Memory training
Primary outcome measures
- Feasibility of memory training intervention: Demand for the treatment [Time frame: From enrollment to the end of follow up 3 months after the intervention]
- Feasibility of memory training intervention: Adherence [Time frame: From enrollment to the end of follow up 3 months after the intervention]
- Feasibility of memory training intervention: Acceptability by participants [Time frame: From enrollment to the end of follow up 3 months after the intervention]
- Feasibility of memory training intervention: Format of delivery [Time frame: From enrollment to the end of follow up 3 months after the intervention]
Secondary outcome measures (6)
- Memory training effectiveness [Time frame: From enrollment to the end of follow up 3 months after the intervention]
- Memory training effectiveness [Time frame: From enrollment to the end of follow up 3 months after the intervention]
- Strategy use [Time frame: From enrollment to the end of follow up 3 months after the intervention]
- Objective verbal memory functioning [Time frame: From enrollment to the end of follow up 3 months after the intervention]
- Objective visual memory functioning [Time frame: From enrollment to the end of follow up 3 months after the intervention]
- Personal memory goal [Time frame: From enrollment to the end of follow up 3 months after the intervention]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- history of ABI (stroke/cerebrovascular incidents, traumatic brain injury, anoxia, non-progressive brain tumour, brain infection, or other non-progressive ABI) at least 6 months prior to inclusion.
- memory problems.
- sufficient Norwegian language skills to participate in assessments and group treatment.
- age between 18 and 75 years.
Exclusion criteria
- diagnosis of comorbid progressive neurodegenerative disorder, or serious major somatic or psychiatric conditions (e.g bipolar disorder, psychosis, severe depression)
- major cognitive impairment preventing assessment and group participation
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- N/A
- Model
- Single group
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Norway · 1 center
- University Hospital of North Norway — Tromsø
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06800040 · REC North ID nr. 793668 · 38355/HNI0056-24