Improving Cognition and Behavior in Pediatric Cancer Survivors Using a Novel Mindful Attention Training

Sponsor
University of California, San Francisco (Other)
Overall Status
Not yet recruiting
CT.gov ID
NCT05000905
Collaborator
(none)
40
1
2
20
2

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

This pilot study will evaluate the cognitive and behavioral outcomes of using a novel, adaptive attention training in pediatric cancer survivors.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
  • Behavioral: Adaptive Attention Training
N/A

Detailed Description

Pediatric cancer survivors (PCS) often experience attentional difficulties that have downstream effects on their quality of life, academic achievement, and future occupational attainment. As such, the primary goal of this project is to examine the outcomes of a novel, mindful attention training in this population. Specifically, PCS will be randomly assigned to one of two adaptive attention training groups ('Engage') and complete tasks on the device for up to 8 weeks. Participants will also complete pre- and post-training assessments of cognition and behavior. The investigators hypothesize that completion of 'Engage' training will result in enhanced attentional control beyond the active comparator group that extends to other aspects of cognition in PCS.

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Anticipated Enrollment :
40 participants
Allocation:
Randomized
Intervention Model:
Parallel Assignment
Masking:
Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose:
Supportive Care
Official Title:
A Pilot Study of Assessing and Improving Cognition and Real-World Behavior in Pediatric Cancer Survivors
Anticipated Study Start Date :
Sep 1, 2022
Anticipated Primary Completion Date :
May 1, 2024
Anticipated Study Completion Date :
May 1, 2024

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: Adaptive Attention Training

Participants will complete approximately 15 hours of an at-home training on a novel adaptive attention training program ('Engage'), which will consist of completing thirty, 30-minute sessions over a total of 6-8 weeks.

Behavioral: Adaptive Attention Training
The training is comprised of a time-based titration of rich audiovisual and sparse audio interactive environments. Training progressively transitions the participants from an immersive and rapid reward setting to a less immersive, sensory impoverished, and slower reward setting. Further, the participants' actions require delayed gratification decisions to accomplish play in the sparse setting, building fronto-parietal control through sustained attention and suppression of ventral-striatal reward impulses.

Active Comparator: Low-dose Adaptive Attention Training

Participants will complete approximately 1 hour of at-home training on 'Engage' which consists of two, 30-minute sessions at the beginning and middle of a 6-8 week period.

Behavioral: Adaptive Attention Training
The training is comprised of a time-based titration of rich audiovisual and sparse audio interactive environments. Training progressively transitions the participants from an immersive and rapid reward setting to a less immersive, sensory impoverished, and slower reward setting. Further, the participants' actions require delayed gratification decisions to accomplish play in the sparse setting, building fronto-parietal control through sustained attention and suppression of ventral-striatal reward impulses.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

  1. Change in mean performance on a Continuous Performance Task (CPT) over time [Up to 8 weeks]

    The CPT is a 23-minute task, where participants are instructed to respond to target stimuli (squares at the top of the screen) and withhold responses to non-target stimuli (squares at the bottom of the screen). Performance will be quantified as: (1) mean reaction times, (2) standard deviation of reaction times (RTV), and (3) d-prime (comparing correct target detections or 'hits' to incorrect non-target detections or 'false alarms').

Secondary Outcome Measures

  1. Change in mean performance on a Delay Discounting Task over time [Up to 8 weeks]

    The Delay Discounting task is an untimed task, where participants choose between smaller, more immediate rewards and larger, more delayed rewards. Performance will be quantified by comparing choices between smaller/immediate rewards and larger/delayed rewards as the rate of delay discounting (the hyperbolic discounting index).

Other Outcome Measures

  1. Change in sub-test scores on the Adaptive Cognitive Evaluation (ACE) neuropsychological battery [Up to 8 weeks]

    The ACE is a mobile cognitive assessment tool, which includes a battery of cognitive control tests for rapid tests of cognition. The sub-tests (or 'modules') in ACE are adapted from standardized tasks to rapidly assess various aspects of cognition, including attention, memory, and multitasking.

  2. Change in mean performance on a computerized Math Fluency Test [Up to 8 weeks]

    To assess math fluency, participants solve simple math problems (e.g., addition, subtraction, multiplication) over a 3-minute period. Performance is measured as the number of correct responses.

  3. Change in mean performance on a computerized Reading Fluency Test [Up to 8 weeks]

    To assess reading fluency, participants indicate whether sentences are 'True' or 'False' over a 3-minute period. Performance is measured as the number of correct responses.

  4. Change in mean scores on the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) over time [Up to 8 weeks]

    The MAAS is a 15-item scale designed to assess a core characteristic of mindfulness by asking participants to respond to statements about everyday experiences on a scale from 1="Almost always" to 6="Almost never". The total score is obtained by averaging the scores of the 15 items, to generate a total score for from 1-6. Greater scores are indicative of a greater level of mindfulness.

  5. Change in mean scores on the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) over time [Up to 8 weeks]

    The 14-item scale WEMWBS addresses mental well-being by asking participants to respond to individual items on a scale from 1="None of the time" to 5="All of the time". The total score is obtained by summing the scores for each of the 14 items, to generate a total score ranging from 14-70. Lower scores are indicative of a lower overall well-being.

  6. Change in mean scores on a modified Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) Scale over time [Up to 8 weeks]

    The modified ISI consists of the first three of seven items in the full ISI scale. These three questions ask participants about the the severity of their insomnia symptoms on a scale from 0="None" to 4="Very". The total score is obtained by summing the scores for each of the three items, to generate a total score from 0-12. Higher scores are indicative of more insomnia problems.

  7. Change in mean scores on the Child Self-Control Rating Scale (parent rating) over time [Up to 8 weeks]

    The Child Self-Control Rating Scale consists of 33 items that assess children's self control. Parents respond to individual items on a 7-point scale. The total score is obtained by summing the scores for each of the 33 items, with a higher score reflecting greater lack of child self-control.

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:
7 Years to 17 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study:
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
No
Inclusion Criteria:
  • Have received radiation therapy to the brain or neck

  • Age 7-17 years at the time of radiation therapy

  • Survival >1 year after diagnosis

  • Currently not undergoing treatment

Exclusion Criteria:
  • Not native English speaking

  • Motor or perceptual disability that prevents computer or tablet use

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Site City State Country Postal Code
1 Univeristy of California, San Francisco San Francisco California United States 94143

Sponsors and Collaborators

  • University of California, San Francisco

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Courtney L Gallen, Ph.D., University of California, San Francisco

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Publications

None provided.
Responsible Party:
University of California, San Francisco
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT05000905
Other Study ID Numbers:
  • 21-34653
  • 210822
First Posted:
Aug 11, 2021
Last Update Posted:
Aug 10, 2022
Last Verified:
Aug 1, 2022
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
No
Plan to Share IPD:
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
No
Keywords provided by University of California, San Francisco

Study Results

No Results Posted as of Aug 10, 2022