Reducing everyday memory and planning problems by means of a paging system: a randomised control crossover study

Abstract

Objectives-To evaluate a paging system designed to improve independence in people with memory problems and executive deficits. Methods-After a successful pilot study, a randomised control trial was conducted involving a crossover design with 143 people aged between 8 and 83 years. All had one or more of the following: memory, planning, attention, or organisation problems. Most had sustained a traumatic head injury or a stroke although a few had developmental learning diYculties or other conditions. The crossover design ensured that some people received a pager after a 2 week baseline whereas others were required to wait for 7 weeks after the baseline before receiving the pager. Participants were assessed at three time periods-namely, at baseline, 7 weeks, and at 14 weeks postbaseline. Results-More than 80% of those who completed the 16 week trial were significantly more successful in carrying out everyday activities (such as self care, self medication, and keeping appointments) when using the pager in comparison with the baseline period. For most of these, significant improvement was maintained when they were monitored 7 weeks after returning the pager. Conclusions-This particular paging system significantly reduces everyday failures of memory and planning in people with brain injury. (J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2001;70:477-482)

EFNS Guidelines on cognitive rehabilitation: report of an EFNS Task Force

“…A literature search updating The Cochrane Review (Majid et al, 2001) and the review by Cicerone et al (2000) added five studies for consideration of which five studies, three were characterized as class I studies (Ownsworth and McFarland, 1999;Rose et al, 1999;Wilson et al, 2001), one as Class II study (Grealy et al, 1999) and one as Class III study (van den Broek et al, 2000). Ownsworth and McFarland (1999) investigated the remediation and assessment of everyday memory impairment in 20 randomly selected patients between 4 and 37 years post-injury, randomly assigned into two treatment groups.…”

“…Furthermore, the DSIT group reported a lower level of memory difficulties and rated the strategies used as more helpful than the DO group. Wilson et al (2001) investigated the effectiveness of a portable externally programmed paging system (Lifeminder, formerly NeuroPage, Atlanta, CA) in 143 participants with TBI (about 44%), stroke (about 25%) or other conditions (about 31%) with memory and/or planning/organizational problems. After a 2-week baseline period, participants were randomly assigned to the treatment (pager) group (A) or to the waiting list (group B), and conditions were switched after 7 weeks.…”

Techniques and devices to restore cognition

“…Mobile phones and pagers can be set up to actively remind patients of tasks [165,173]. Off-the-shelf systems (e.g., PDAs) can be modified to improve access and usability for people with cognitive impairment by creating a linear flow of use, making the system more resilient to user errors, and consistently repeating items that users need help with [150].…”

Ajudas externas à memória na intervenção em pessoas idosas com comprometimento mnésico

“…Neste sentido, as estratégias de compensação, em particular as ajudas externas, são as mais ajustadas ajudando os indivíduos a relembrar as suas anotações, a tomar a medicação e realizar outras tarefas relacionadas com a independência no dia-a-dia (Hodges et al, 2006). As ajudas externas têm demonstrado serem as melhores estratégias compensatórias em situações de problemas de memória, organizacionais e de planeamento (Wilson, Emslie, Quirk, & Evans, 2001), traduzindo-se assim num tipo de técnica que aposta na promoção das competências do dia-a-dia e na qual está, normalmente, implícita os vários tipos de memória.…”