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Supportive Care in Cancer

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01-06-2017 | Original Article

Effects of compensatory cognitive training intervention for breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: a pilot study

Authors: Jin-Hee Park, Yong Sik Jung, Ku Sang Kim, Sun Hyoung Bae

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 6/2017

Abstract

Purpose

Numerous breast cancer patients experience cognitive changes during and after chemotherapy. Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment can significantly affect quality of life. This pilot study attempted to determine the effects of a compensatory cognitive training on the objective and subjective cognitive functioning of breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods

Fifty-four patients were assigned to either a compensatory cognitive training or waitlist condition. They were assessed at baseline (T1), the completion of the 12-week intervention (T2), and 6 months after intervention completion (T3). Outcomes were assessed using the standardized neuropsychological tests and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function (FACT-Cog), version 3. Raw data were converted to T-scores based on baseline scores, and a repeated-measures ANCOVA, adjusting for age, intelligence, depression, and treatment, was used for analysis. The effect sizes for differences in means were calculated.

Results

The intervention group improved significantly over time compared to the waitlist group on objective cognitive function. Among ten individual neuropsychological measures, immediate memory, delayed memory, verbal fluency in category, and verbal fluency in letter showed significant group × time interaction. In subjective cognitive function, scores of the waitlist group significantly decrease over time on perceived cognitive impairments, in contrast to those of the intervention group.

Conclusion

The 12-week compensatory cognitive training significantly improved the objective and subjective cognitive functioning of breast cancer patients. Because this was a pilot study, further research using a larger sample and longer follow-up durations is necessary.

Available only for authorised users

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Title: Effects of compensatory cognitive training intervention for breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: a pilot study
Authors: Jin-Hee Park
Yong Sik Jung
Ku Sang Kim
Sun Hyoung Bae
Publication date: 01-06-2017
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 6/2017
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-017-3589-8

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