Authors (including presenting author) :
Cheung KY (1), Yip CH (1), Choi PC (1), Fan MK (1), Ho HH (1), Tse KY (1), Lau M (1), Yip WP (1), Yue SY (1)
Affiliation :
(1) Shatin Hospital
Introduction :
The aging population of Hong Kong implies a potential increasing prevalence of age-related disorders. Cognitive impairment is among the most common complications of acquired and degenerative brain disorders (Mitchell et al., 2010), inducing a significant health challenge and impact in daily functioning. Studies have shown that cognitive rehabilitation in occupational therapy can lead to improvements in cognitive functioning and daily living skills (Gibson et al, 2022). A standardized and evidence-based cognitive training protocol was developed in order to enhance patients’ cognitive abilities and increase therapists’ competency in providing cognitive intervention.
Objectives :
This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the standardized cognitive rehabilitation protocol on improving the cognitive functions in patients with neurological disorders.
Methodology :
A cognitive rehabilitation protocol which complies of standardized evaluation and intervention process was developed based on the Cognitive Functional Evaluation (CFE) process and various literature review. According to the assessment results, deficits in specific cognitive domains were identified. Patients were given with component-based cognitive training (5 times per week, 15-30 minutes in each session) and compensatory strategies education. Self-derived cognitive pamphlets (basic or advanced level) were also designed for recommendations on home program cognitive exercises, memory aids and home modification to patients and carers. After a series of clinical trial, this guideline was fully adopted as a standardized cognitive intervention program for patients with neurological disorders.
Result & Outcome :
A total of 80 patients who were diagnosed with neurological disorders, were recruited from the Neurological and Neurosurgical wards of Shatin Hospital from March to November 2024. HK-MoCA was administered as the primary outcome measure. They were given a course of cognitive rehabilitation with reference to the standardized protocol for up to 8 weeks. Compared to the initial assessment, the total HK-MoCA score increased significantly after the implementation of standardized cognitive intervention (p< 0.001). Statistical significance was also found in the domain scores for memory (p< 0.001) and attention (p< 0.001). Both caregivers and patients showed positive feedback on the cognitive training provided and educational pamphlets given.
This study has proven the effectiveness of implementing a standardized protocol in enhancing the quality of service in cognitive rehabilitation. It is suggested that the use of a uniformized treatment package could promote consistent and evidence-based care among different therapists. Further study on the application of this protocol on general medical and geriatric patients would be recommended.
