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Table 6.15 The Effect of Passive Devices on Memory and Task Completion Post ABI

Author

Year

Country

Research Design

PEDro

Sample Size

Methods Outcome

McDonald et al.

(2011)

UK

RCT

PEDro=5

N=12

Population: Mean Age: 47yr; Gender: male=6, female=6; Condition: TBI=4, Stroke=4, Other ABI=3.

Intervention: One of two groups (Group A or Group B). All were asked to complete weekly monitoring forms indicating what activities they would like to complete within the next 15 weeks. Those assigned to Group A (the Google calendar group) were shown how to use the calendar to remind them of upcoming activities.  They were discouraged from using other reminder strategies during the next 5 weeks. Group B was the standard diary group. At the end of the 5 weeks, group B began using the Google calendar while Group A began using the standard diary.

Outcome Measure: Task completion.

1.        Overall the use of memory aids assisted individuals in completing tasks as opposed to no memory aids.

2.        Memory performance was greater using the google calendar compared to the standard diary (p<0.001).

3.        During the Google Calendar intervention phase, there was 40.6% increase in completing their prospective intention compared to the standard diary phase.

4.        Overall 82% of targets were reached using Google calendar but only 55% using the standard diary.

Bergquist et al.

(2009)

USA

RCT

N=14

Population: TBI; Mean Age=48yr; Gender: Male=7, Female=7.

Intervention: Patients were allocated to either an active calendar acquisition intervention group or the control diary intervention group.  Throughout each intervention, participants had 30 therapist-mediated sessions, which were completed via Instant Messaging (IM). At the end of the 30 sessions they crossed-over to the other group. During the calendar condition, participants were encouraged to use the online calendar to plan and remember events. IM sessions were used to review tasks completed.

Outcome Measure:  Neurobehavioural Functioning Inventory (NFI), Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ), Compensation Techniques Questionnaire (CTQ).

1.        There were no significant differences between the Calendar and the Diary conditions on patient- and family-rated mood and memory functioning as noted on the NFI; there were no differences on CIQ total score as well.

2.        From baseline to the last follow-up, improvement was found on the CTQ, specifically in the notes on calendar (p<0.02) and the use of cue cards (p<0.01). Family members also noted improvement in levels of depression (p<0.02) and reported fewer memory problems p<0.004).

Ownsworth & McFarland

(1999)

Australia

RCT

PEDro=3

N=20

Population: Mean Age: 43.1 yr; Gender: male=19, female=1; Condition: TBI=15, Stroke=1, Other ABI=4; Injury etiology: traffic accident (n=12), sport injury (n=1), assault (n=2), tumour (n=2), stroke (n=1), and infection (n=2).

Intervention: Randomized into a diary only (DS) group (n=10) and a diary & self-instructional training (DSIT) group (n=10) intervention. The DS group participated in a 6 week “Bottom-Up” approach program that emphasized the development of functional skills using compensation based, on task,-specific learning.

The DSIT group participated in a 10 week “Top-Down” approach program that emphasized the capacity for self-regulation and self-awareness using “Self Instructional Training.”

Outcome Measure: Self report questionnaire on commonly experienced memory problems.

1.        All subjects reported significantly fewer problems with memory (p<0.001) and lower levels of distress (p<0.01) during treatment phase when compared to baseline.

2.        There was a significant increase in the degree of strategy use during treatment (p<0.05) regardless of type of diary training.

3.        There were no significant differences between the DS and DSIT groups (p>0.05).

Watanabe et al.

(1998)

USA

RCT

PEDro=3

N=30

Population: Mean Age: 53.4yr; Gender: male=24, female=6; Condition: TBI=16, ABI=14.

Intervention: Patients were randomized into two groups, one group had in-room calendars (n=14) and the other did not (n=16). The Temporal Orientation Test was given daily, when errors were made, corrections were shown on the in-room calendars (for the experimental group).

Outcome Measure: Temporal Orientation Test (TOT).

1.        Presence of a calendar did not significantly affect TOT scores.

Schmitter-Edgecombe et al.

(1995)

United States

RCT

PEDro=8

N=12

Population: Notebook Training (N=4): Mean age=29.9yr; Mean time post-injury=77.7mo. Supportive Therapy (N=8): Mean age=26.8yr; Mean time post-injury=86.8mo.

Intervention: Individuals were randomly assigned to either a memory notebook use group, or a supportive therapy group (control) for 9 weeks. Individuals were assessed at baseline, immediately following treatment, and at 6-months follow-up.

Outcome Measures: Everyday memory failures (EMFs), laboratory-based memory (Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test), laboratory-based recall (Logical Memory I and II, Visual Reproduction I and II from Wechsler Memory Scale), Everyday Memory Questionnaire (EMQ).

1.        Participants did not differ significantly on any baseline measures.

2.        There were no significant differences groups on laboratory-based recall, laboratory-based everyday memory, or EMQ scores.

3.        Participants in the notebook group experienced significantly fewer EMFs compared to the supportive therapy group (p<0.05). However, this effect was no longer significant at follow-up.

PEDro = Physiotherapy Evidence Database rating scale score (Moseley et al., 2002).