Evaluation of a new cognitive measure in children who have had cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An investigation into the construct validity of a brief neurocognitive screening battery in a paediatric oncology population
IRAS ID
121882
Contact name
Elizabeth Prince
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East Anglia
Research summary
Treatment of childhood cancer of the central nervous system and leukaemia are associated with significant negative cognitive outcomes. Attention and concentration, processing speed, visual perceptual abilities, memory and executive function have been shown to be affected, with deficits becoming more severe over time. It is recommended that children undergoing treatment for these cancers receive a neuropsychological assessment at least at diagnosis, entry into long term follow up and other transition points to screen for deficits that may affect their long term educational, employment and social outcomes. There are several barriers to these recommendations being routinely met in clinical practice including time and cost constraints. CogState is a neuropsychological battery which assesses the neurocognitive domains at risk in this population and is brief and easily administered. This study aims to evaluate the construct validity of the battery in a sample of patients aged between 8 and 16 who have survived cancer of the central nervous system or Leukaemia by comparing it to standardised neuropsychological measures. Patients will be recruited from hospital outpatient clinics in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. Participants will complete the CogState battery, a standardised neuropsychological battery and self report questionnaires during a single study visit. A parent/carer of the study participants will also complete informant report questionnaires during this visit.
Secondary aims of the study are to assess the acceptability and feasibility of the CogState battery within the paediatric oncology population and investigate the relationship between time since diagnosis and performance on the CogState battery
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/YH/0228
Date of REC Opinion
4 Jul 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion