Social Functioning of Childhood Cancer Survivors after Computerized Cognitive Training: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Childhood cancer survivors are at risk for cognitive and social deficits. Previous findings indicate computerized cognitive training can result in an improvement of cognitive skills. The current objective was to investigate whether these cognitive gains generalize to social functioning benefits. Sixty-eight survivors of childhood cancer were randomly assigned to a computerized cognitive intervention (mean age 12.21 ± 2.47 years, 4.97 ± 3.02 years off-treatment) or waitlist control group (mean age 11.82 ± 2.42 years, 5.04 ± 2.41 years off-treatment). Conners 3 Parent and Self-Report forms were completed pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention and six-months post-intervention. Piecewise linear mixed-effects models indicated no significant differences in Peer Relations between groups at baseline and no difference in change between groups from pre- to immediate post-intervention or post- to six-months post-intervention (ps > 0.40). Baseline Family Relations problems were significantly elevated in the control group relative to the intervention group (p < 0.01), with a significantly greater decline from pre- to immediate post-intervention (p < 0.05) and no difference in change between groups from post- to six-months post-intervention (p > 0.80). The study results suggest cognitive gains from computerized training do not generalize to social functioning. Training focused on skill-based social processing (e.g., affect recognition) may be more efficacious.

Cognition, psychosocial functioning, and health-related quality of life among childhood cancer survivors

“…In this study, peer and conduct problems were more common among the survivors than among healthy controls (Hocking et al, 2015;Mendoza et al, 2019). Interestingly, our data confirm previous findings (Ehrhardt et al, 2018;Hocking et al, 2015;Puhr et al, 2019;Tonning Olsson et al, 2020): executive functions, processing speed, and fluid intelligence were correlated with peer problems, and this was associated with poorer health-related quality of life in CC survivors.…”

Computer-Based Cognitive Training in Children with Primary Brain Tumours: A Systematic Review

“…The assessment showed different qualities of the studies: Two studies [ 19 , 20 ] showed a deficient quality, one study low [ 21 ], four studies moderate [ 5 , 22 , 23 , 24 ], and two trials [ 25 , 26 ] showed high quality, according to Cochrane standards.…”

“…All of the studies, except for two [ 19 , 20 ], were designed as randomised controlled investigations, in which a computer-based cognitive training was assigned to intervention or control groups. In four studies [ 5 , 22 , 23 , 26 ], the participants were randomised to experimental cognitive training, according to the study protocol or the waiting list group. In comparison, in three studies [ 21 , 24 , 25 ], the enrolled patients were assigned to adaptive- or not-adaptive computer-based training.…”

A narrative review of the late effects of paediatric cancer treatment within an educational setting: Existing evidence and where do we go from here?

“…20 Furthermore, there is evidence that social and emotional difficulties are known to exist in the paediatric cancer survivor population, these factors are also consistently linked with poorer educational achievement. 23,24 Whilst it is clear from existing literature that paediatric patients undergoing cancer treatment experience a negative impact upon their educational achievement and academic trajectory, findings relevant to the education system within the UK are limited. There are also areas of variation within the existing literature in this field of research that currently hinder the effective synthesis of data and conclusions.…”

“… 20 Furthermore, there is evidence that social and emotional difficulties are known to exist in the paediatric cancer survivor population, these factors are also consistently linked with poorer educational achievement. 23 , 24 …”