Authors (including presenting author) :
Hong SMB(1), Cheung CKC(1), Ho CME (1)
Affiliation :
Occupational Therapy Department, Tai Po Hospital
Introduction :
Patients with substance use disorders (SUD) experience different cognitive impairments, including memory and executive function. These could influence their daily functioning and hinder the treatment outcome. Early assessment and intervention to reduce the impairments is one of the key roles in occupational therapy.
The cognitive training program we provided including free mobile games apps in smartphone app store, which focus on delay recall and working memory aspects. The effectiveness of the program to improve overall cognitive function and memory aspects were evaluated.
Objectives :
To evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive training by mobile game apps for patients with substance use disorder (SUD) in hospital setting.
Methodology :
32 adult male in-patients were recruited by convenience sampling between 1st April to 30th Nov, 2024. Inclusion criteria were (1) diagnosed with SUD by clinician, with regular substance use at least 1 month before index admission, (2) Stable mental state and, (3) Sober from substance after admission (1 to 2 weeks after admission).
Participants’ level of overall cognitive function and delay recall were measured by Montreal Cognitive Assessment- HK version (HK-MOCA), and working memory was measured by Wechsler Memory Scale-3rd edition - spatial span subtest (WMS-III).
10 of the participants did not complete the training program due to passive or uncooperative attitude. Finally, there were 22 participants had completed the cognitive training and post-assessment (mean age= 40.6 years, SD=9.52). They were required to attend the training 10-15 minutes in each session, 2-3 sessions per week, the average sessions attended were 13.1 sessions (range 6-15 sessions).
Result & Outcome :
Paired Wilcoxon Sign Rank Test was used to measure the result. There is significant improvement in HK-MOCA total score (Z=2.9, p=0.004), but there is no significant improvement in delay recall sub-test (Z=-1.5, p=0.153) and WMS-III total score (Z=1.9, p=0.063)
In addition, the result indicated there is significant improvement in executive function sub-test of HK-MOCA (Z=2.6, p=0.009).
The finding suggested that the overall cognitive function and executive function were improved, but no improvement in delay recall and working memory aspects. It is recommended to review the treatment setting in hospital, training dosage, and the types of mobile games apps applied in the program.
