Emerging From the Haze: A Pilot Study Evaluating Feasibility of a Psychoeducational Intervention to Improve Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment in Gynecologic Cancer Survivors.

Academic Article

Abstract

  • PURPOSE:: The objective of this pilot study is to evaluate the (1) applicability of a 15-hour attending-taught psychoeducational intervention in a retrospective cohort and (2) feasibility of a trainee-taught intervention in a prospective cohort of patients with gynecologic cancer to help manage cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI). METHODS:: Adults with any stage gynecologic cancer who completed chemotherapy and reported cognitive complaints were eligible. Additionally, the screening criteria of Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognition (FACT-Cog) perceived cognitive impairment (PCI) subscale score <59 was used in the prospective cohort. Validated patient-reported outcomes including FACT-Cog and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Applied Cognition Abilities and General Concerns were measured before and after the intervention. RESULTS:: Twelve patients underwent an attending-taught intervention between 2011 and 2014. Significant improvements in mean FACT-Cog PCI (+6.1, P < .048), quality of life (+2.4, P = .04), and total score (+9.8, P = .03) were demonstrated, while there was no significant change in mean FACT-Cog perceived cognitive abilities. Ten patients underwent a trainee-taught intervention in 2017. No significant changes in mean FACT-Cog subscale or total scores were seen. Significant improvements in PROMIS Applied Cognition Abilities (+8.2, P = .01) and PROMIS Applied Cognition General Concerns were demonstrated (-8.0, P < .01). CONCLUSIONS:: Our psychoeducational intervention demonstrates applicability to patients with gynecologic cancer reporting CRCI and supports the feasibility of more widespread training based on improvements in validated patient-reported outcomes related to cognition.

    • Authors

    Published In

  • J Palliat Care  Journal

    • Keywords

  • cancer-related cognitive impairment, chemobrain, cognitive rehabilitation, gynecologic cancer, psychoeducational intervention, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Antineoplastic Agents, Behavior Therapy, Cancer Survivors, Cognitive Dysfunction, Female, Genital Neoplasms, Female, Humans, Los Angeles, Middle Aged, Pilot Projects, Prospective Studies, Retrospective Studies

    • Digital Object Identifier (doi)

    Author List

  • Liang MI; Erich B; Bailey C; Jo M-Y; Walsh CS; Asher A

    • Start Page

  • 32

    • End Page

  • 37

    • Volume

  • 34

    • Issue

  • 1