A randomized controlled trial of a home-based computerized executive function intervention for children with cerebral palsy

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) often show executive function (EF) impairments that are key to quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess whether a home-based computerized intervention program improves executive functions (EFs) compared to usual care. Sixty participants (30 females) with...

ver descrição completa

Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: García-Galant, María, Blasco, Montse, Laporta-Hoyos, Olga, Berenguer-González, Alba, Moral‑Salicrú, Paula, Ballester Plané, Júlia, Caldú i Ferrús, Xavier, Miralbell Blanch, Júlia, Alonso Curcó, Xènia, Medina Cantillo, Julita, Povedano-Bulló, Elsa, Leiva Ureña, David, Boyd, Roslyn, Pueyo Benito, Roser
Tipo de documento: artigo
Estado:Versão publicada
Data de publicação:2023
País:España
Recursos:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositório:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/220065
Acesso em linha:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/220065
Access Level:Acceso aberto
Palavra-chave:Infants
Cognició
Paràlisi cerebral
Funcions executives (Neuropsicologia)
Children
Cognition
Cerebral palsy
Executive functions (Neuropsychology)
Descrição
Resumo:Children with cerebral palsy (CP) often show executive function (EF) impairments that are key to quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess whether a home-based computerized intervention program improves executive functions (EFs) compared to usual care. Sixty participants (30 females) with CP (8–12 years old) were paired by age, sex, motor ability, and intelligence quotient score and then randomized to intervention and waitlist control groups. The intervention group received a 12-week home-based computerized EF intervention (5 days/week, 30 min/day, total dose 30 h). Core and higher-order EFs were assessed before, immediately after, and 9 months after completing the intervention. The intervention group performed better than the waitlist control group in the three core EFs (immediately and 9 months after the intervention): inhibitory control (F=7.58, p=0.13 and F=7.85, p=0.12), working memory (F=8.34, p=0.14 and F=7.55, p=0.13), and cognitive flexibility (F=4.87, p=0.09 and F=4.19, p=0.08). No differences were found between the groups in higher-order EFs or EF manifestations in daily life. Conclusions: A home-based computerized EF intervention improved core EFs in children with CP, but further research is needed to identify strategies that allow the transfer of these improvements to everyday life.