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Evaluating the feasibility and efficacy of the Amsterdam memory and attention training for children (Amat-c) following acquired brain injury (ABI): protocol for a pilot study with online clinician support

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 July 2021

Cathy Catroppa ,
Edith Botchway ,
Nicholas P. Ryan ,
Vicki Anderson ,
Elle Morrison ,
Bernadette Lam ,
Chandelle Piazza ,
Daina Krasts ,
Emma McIntosh  and
Noor Khan
...Show all authors
Cathy Catroppa*
Affiliation:
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
Edith Botchway
Affiliation:
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
Nicholas P. Ryan
Affiliation:
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
Vicki Anderson
Affiliation:
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
Elle Morrison
Affiliation:
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
Bernadette Lam
Affiliation:
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
Chandelle Piazza
Affiliation:
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
Daina Krasts
Affiliation:
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
Emma McIntosh
Affiliation:
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
Noor Khan
Affiliation:
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
Nikita Sood
Affiliation:
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
*
*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Background:

Attention and memory deficits are common following paediatric acquired brain injury (ABI). However, there are few evidence-based interventions to improve these domains and benefit the everyday life of children post-injury. The Amsterdam Memory and Attention Training for children (Amat-c) has been translated from Dutch to English and shown to improve attention and memory skills in children following ABI. This protocol describes a study to expand accessibility of the program by using online, clinician-supported delivery with children post-ABI.

Method/design:

The study is a randomized controlled trial. Participants will be 40 children aged 8–16 a minimum of one-year post-ABI. Participants in the treatment group will complete 18 weekly sessions of the Amat-c program with weekly online clinician support. Participants in the active-control group will be administered ABI psychoeducation via a booklet for parents, with weekly online clinician contact. Attention and memory will be assessed at three time points up to six months post-intervention.

Results:

Analysis will be repeated measures multivariate planned comparisons; using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics) General Linear Model procedure will compare pre- and post-intervention and six-month follow-up outcomes.

Discussion:

If shown efficacious in improving attention and memory, our team will then take a key role in implementing Amat-c into clinical care.

Keywords

Attentionbrain injurychildreninterventionmemory
Type
Research Protocol
Information
Brain Impairment , Volume 23 , Issue 3 , December 2022 , pp. 325 - 336
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment

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