Oral Presentation 2025 Joint Meeting of the COSA ASM and IPOS Congress

Web-based cognitive rehabilitation for patients with aggressive lymphoma: a randomised pilot trial (126002)

Priscilla Gates 1 2 , Jade Guarnera 1 , Karla Gough 2 , Haryana Dhillon 3 , Heather Green 4 , Michael Dickinson 5 , Janette Vardy 6 , Tracey Dryden 5 , Trish Livingston 7 , Juan Dominguez Duque 1 , Karen Caeyenberghs 1
  1. Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
  2. Department of Health Services Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  3. Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, Centre for Medical Psychology& Evidence-based Decision-Making, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  4. Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
  5. Clinical Haematology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  6. The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  7. Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia

Objectives/purpose
Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is common among people with cancer, however, interventions to mitigate CRCI have mostly been trialed in people with breast cancer. This study aimed to test the feasibility and acceptability of a web-based cognitive rehabilitation program, Responding to Cognitive Concerns (eReCog), in people who received chemotherapy for aggressive lymphoma. The secondary aim was to obtain preliminary evidence of efficacy potential of eReCog.


Sample/setting
This single-site, parallel-group, pilot randomised controlled trial, with one baseline and one follow-up assessment, was conducted in a clinical haematology service at a specialist cancer centre in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia


Procedures
Participants who completed chemotherapy for aggressive lymphoma within the past five years; and had a perceived reduction in cognitive functioning were randomised one-to-one to receive usual care, or eReCog plus usual care. The four-week eReCog intervention consisted of four online modules offering strategy training on cognitive impairment associated with cancer and its treatment.


Results
38 participants [47y±14y, 21M, 18 with Hodgkin lymphoma] were recruited over 10 months. All six feasibility outcome criteria were met. Specifically, retention and compliance with eReCog and study assessments was very high at both time-points, and only two participants withdrew. A large effect favouring the intervention arm was observed on the Stroop Word score (p=0.029). Medium effects favouring the intervention arm were also observed on PROMIS Anxiety and Cognitive function, HVLT Total recall, Stroop Color score, and Trails A score (all p>0.05).


Conclusions and clinical implications
Our web-based cognitive rehabilitation program, eReCog, was feasible and acceptable for people who have received chemotherapy for aggressive lymphoma. Web-based interventions have the potential to increase equity of access to cognitive rehabilitation for people experiencing CRCI. Findings from this study will inform a future, larger study to further test the effectiveness of a novel intervention to improve cognitive outcomes and quality of life.