Scoping review of the Multiple Errands Test: Is it relevant to youths with acquired brain injury?

2018 ◽  
Vol 81 (12) ◽  
pp. 673-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa L Hanberg ◽  
Diane E MacKenzie ◽  
Brenda K Merritt

Introduction For youths who sustain acquired brain injuries, distinguishing typical development of executive function from the impairment(s) can be a challenging but critical assessment consideration. Occupational therapists working with individuals after brain injury can use the Multiple Errands Test as a performance-based assessment of the effect of executive dysfunction in the real world. Although numerous test versions exist for different settings and diagnostic populations, their relevance to youths is unclear. We surveyed the non-virtual reality literature for test versions to determine the measurement properties and clinical utility for assessing youths in a community setting. Method A scoping review was completed to summarize study purpose/design, Multiple Errands Test structure, assessment environment, sample characteristics, psychometric properties, clinical utility and main findings of the test versions. Results We included 10 quantitative studies and found the strongest reliability and validity evidence for male adults with moderate to severe acquired brain injury, in a hospital setting. Multiple Errands Test versions can distinguish people with brain injury from controls and identify challenges in the home and community. No studies examined the test performance of younger participants. Conclusion This review highlights the research of several Multiple Errands Test versions and identifies gaps in that research, including the need for development of a test version for youths in a community setting.

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. e029061
Author(s):  
Signe Janum Eskildsen ◽  
Daniela Jakobsen ◽  
Christian Gunge Riberholt ◽  
Ingrid Poulsen ◽  
Derek John Curtis

IntroductionDysphagia is highly prevalent in patients with acquired brain injury (ABI) and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. However, dysphagia management varies greatly between units and internationally, and there is currently no consensus, standard intervention or treatment. A review mapping the existing literature on dysphagia treatment is needed. In this paper, the protocol for a scoping review to identify and map dysphagia treatment following ABI is outlined.ObjectiveThe objective of the scoping review is to systematically map the existing research literature to answer the research question:Which non-surgical, non-pharmacological interventions are used in the treatment of dysphagia in patients with moderate and severe acquired brain injury in the acute and subacute phase?Methods and analysisThe methodological framework for the study is based on methodology by Arksey and O’Malley and methodological advancement by Levacet al. We will search electronic databases in June 2019: MEDLINE (Ovid); Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library); EMBASE (Ovid); CINAHL (EBSCO); PsycINFO; Science Citation Index Expanded on Web of Science; OTseeker; Speechbite and PEDro. The search terms will be limited to patients with moderate to severe ABI and dysphagia. Four review authors will independently conduct an initial screening of title and abstract and subsequent full-text review of included studies. Data will be extracted and summarised in diagrammatic or tabular form (numerical summary), and a descriptive format (narrative summary). The strategy for data synthesis entails qualitative methods to categorise the interventions based on the treatment modality and subgroup diagnosis.Ethics and disseminationScoping the existing literature will provide a foundation for further evaluating and developing our dysphagia treatment and inform future studies assessing the effectiveness of treatments. The review is part of an ongoing expansive research into dysphagia. The results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication and conference presentations.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. e053244
Author(s):  
Signe Janum Eskildsen ◽  
Ingrid Poulsen ◽  
Daniela Jakobsen ◽  
Christian Gunge Riberholt ◽  
Derek John Curtis

IntroductionDysphagia is a common and critical consequence of acquired brain injury (ABI) and can cause severe complications. Dysphagia rehabilitation is transforming from mainly compensatory strategies to the retraining of swallowing function using principles from neuroscience. However, there are no studies that map interventions available to retrain swallowing function in patients with moderate-to-severe ABI.ObjectiveTo systematically map the accessible research literature to answer the research question: Which non-surgical, non-pharmacological interventions are used in the treatment of dysphagia in patients with moderate and severe ABI in the acute and subacute phase?DesignScoping review based on the methodology of Arksey and O’Malley and methodological advancement by Levac et al.Data sourcesMEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, OTseeker, speechBITE and PEDro were searched up until 14 March 2021.Eligibility criteriaAll studies reporting rehabilitative interventions within 6 months of injury for patients with moderate-to-severe ABI and dysphagia were included.Data extraction and synthesisData was extracted by two independent reviewers and studies were categorised based on treatment modality.ResultsA total of 21 396 records were retrieved, and a final of 26 studies were included. Interventions were categorised into cortical or non-cortical stimulation of the swallowing network. Cortical stimulation interventions were repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation. Non-cortical were complex swallowing interventions, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, pharyngeal electrical stimulation (PES), sensory stimulation, strengthening exercises and respiratory muscle training.ConclusionThis scoping review provides an overview of rehabilitative dysphagia interventions for patients with moderate and severe ABI, predominantly due to stroke, in the acute and subacute phase. Positive tendencies towards beneficial effects were found for rTMS, complex swallowing interventions, PES and cervical strengthening. Future studies could benefit from clear reporting of patient diagnosis and disease severity, the use of more standardised treatment protocols or algorithms and fewer but standardised outcome measures to enable comparison of effects across studies and interventions.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1357633X2199019
Author(s):  
Rosaria De Luca ◽  
Carmela Rifici ◽  
Patrizia Pollicino ◽  
Marcella Di Cara ◽  
Sabrina Miceli ◽  
...  

Introduction Severe acquired brain injury(SABI) often results in the deterioration of physical, cognitive and emotional functions in the patient and a significant caregiver's distress syndrome, which is now amplified by the social isolation, depression and financial difficulties related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of web-based online-therapy has been shown to be useful to overcome caregiver's distress syndrome and further stimulate cognitive-motor recovery of SABI-patients. Our study aimed to investigate whether a systematic online Skype-therapy(OLST) may be of support in favoring global cognitive and sensory-motor recovery in SABI-patients and reducing caregiver distress. Methods Twenty-five SABI-subjects in inpatient regimen were provided with intensive OLST with the caregiver for 12 weeks in addition to standard neurorehabilitation. Each subject and caregiver was evaluated before and after the treatment by administering an ad hoc battery. Furthermore, 18 of 27 patients were provided with EEG recording in resting state. Results We found a significant reduction in caregiver's anxiety (p<0.0001) and burden(p<0.0001). Patients showed significant improvement in trunk control (p<0.0001), functional independence (p = 0.005), functional (p = 0.01) and global communication (p = 0.004), cognitive functioning (p = 0.001), and behavioral responsiveness (p = 0.0004). The training yielded a significant connectivity change within the fronto-centro-parietal areas in the delta frequency band (p<0.0001) and the centro-parieto-occipital areas in the alpha range (p = 0.004). Discussion OLST may be a useful and complementary treatment to optimize global cognitive and functional recovery in SABI-subjects and reduce caregivers' concerns in the Covid-era. OLST can foster cognitive-motor recovery potentially by favoring the plasticity-dependent functional recovery. Therefore, OLST could be proposed as a tool allowing social conversations also in the hospital setting.


Brain Injury ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 520-529
Author(s):  
Antonio Caronni ◽  
Emanuele Liaci ◽  
Anna Bianchi ◽  
Alessandro Viganò ◽  
Francesco Marenco ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D’Ippolito ◽  
M. Aloisi ◽  
E. Azicnuda ◽  
D. Silvestro ◽  
M. Giustini ◽  
...  

Introduction. Severe acquired brain injury (sABI) is considered the most common cause of death and disability worldwide. sABI patients are supported by their caregivers who often exhibit high rates of psychological distress, mood disorders, and changes in relationship dynamics and family roles.Objectives. To explore lifestyle changes of caregivers of sABI patients during the postacute rehabilitation, by investigating possible differences between primary and secondary caregivers. Primary caregivers spend most of the time with the patient, providing daily care and taking most responsibility for the day-to-day decisions, while secondary caregivers are those who provide additional support.Methods. Three hundred forty-seven caregivers of sABI patients were asked to fill in an unpublished self-report questionnaire to explore their possible lifestyles changes.Results. A statistically significant difference was found between primary and secondary caregivers in time spent in informal caregiving (p<0.001). The primary caregivers reduced all leisure activities compared to secondary carers (p<0.05).Conclusions. By comparing the percentage of leisure activities performed by caregiversbeforeandafterthe patient’s sABI onset, all caregivers showed high percentages of changes in lifestyle and habits, even though primary caregivers reported more negative lifestyle changes than secondary caregivers. Further studies are needed to investigate needs and burden experienced by caregivers of sABI patients during the postacute rehabilitation phase, also in relation to the patients’ outcome, to address support interventions for them and improve their quality of life.


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