The purpose of this research study is to examine the effectiveness of an online Spanish cognitive intervention program in Latino/Hispanic Spanish-speaking subarachnoid hemorrhage patients. In particular, the researchers will examine whether cognitive impairments associated with a subarachnoid hemorrhagic event improve after completing the online cognitive intervention program. Secondary outcomes of the research study include examining whether there is an improvement in research participants' quality of life and psychological functioning as a result of the online Spanish cognitive intervention program.
40 Spanish-speaking research participants who have sustained a subarachnoid hemorrhage in the last 6 months will participate in the current research study. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1) Cognitive intervention group (n = 20) or 2) Control group (n = 20).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
This is an online cognitive training program. It consists of 29 online exercises that work out attention, brain speed, memory, people skills, navigation, and intelligence. The current study will focus on the following exercises: attention, brain speed (e.g., processing speed), executive function, and memory.
DHR Health Neuroscience Institute
Edinburg, Texas, United States
Spanish Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test
This is a commonly used comprehensive verbal learning and memory test. The test consists of a 15-item word list that is presented five times. Participants are then asked to recall as many words following a brief delay and 20 minutes later. Raw scores from the following scales will be utilized: Total Recall, Short-Delayed Free Recall, Long-Delayed Free Recall, and Recognition Hits. Score values range from 0-to-15. These are considered participants' raw scores. Raw scores will then be converted to scaled scores based on available published normative data. All converted scores will be presented as scaled scores with a mean of ten and standard deviation of three in order to ensure that all scores are on a uniform scale. Scores falling at 1.5 standard deviations below the mean (scaled score ≤ 5) will be considered impaired. Scores that are above the 1.5 cut-off (scaled score ≥ 6) will be considered to be intact. Intact scores will be indicative of better memory outcomes.
Time frame: 16 months
Escala Wechsler de Inteligencia Para Adultos-IV (WAIS-IV; Wechsler, 2008) Retención de dígitos
This is an oral measure of working memory and attention abilities. Participants are presented with a series of numbers and must repeat them correctly in forward, reverse, and sequence order. Score values range from 0-to-48. These are considered participants' raw scores. Raw scores will then be converted to scaled scores based on available published normative data. All converted scores will be presented as scaled scores with a mean of ten and standard deviation of three in order to ensure that all scores are on a uniform scale. Scores falling at 1.5 standard deviations below the mean (scaled score ≤ 5) will be considered impaired. Scores that are above the 1.5 cut-off (scaled score ≥ 6) will be considered to be intact. Intact scores will be indicative of better outcomes on working memory and attentional abilities.
Time frame: 16 months
Escala Wechsler de Inteligencia Para Adultos-IV (WAIS-IV) Claves subtest
This is speeded graphomotor transcription subtest that assesses attention and processing speed abilities. Participants are required to a place a code with its designated number as quickly as possible in 120 seconds. Score values range from 0-to-135. These are considered participants' raw scores. Raw scores will then be converted to scaled scores based on available published normative data. All converted scores will be presented as scaled scores with a mean of ten and standard deviation of three in order to ensure that all scores are on a uniform scale. Scores falling at 1.5 standard deviations below the mean (scaled score ≤ 5) will be considered impaired. Scores that are above the 1.5 cut-off (scaled score ≥ 6) will be considered to be intact. Intact scores will be indicative of better outcomes on processing speed and attentional abilities.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Time frame: 16 months
Color Trails 1 and 2 (D'Elia, Satz, Lyons-Uchiyama, & White, 1996)
These two tests are non-verbal timed measures that assess processing speed and executive functioning abilities. Color Trails 1 is a sequencing test in which participants draw a line connecting numbers scattered throughout the test stimuli from least to greatest as quickly as possible. In Color Trails 2, participants are required to do the same as in Color Trails 1, but they must alternate colors for each number sequence as quickly as possible.
Time frame: 16 months
FAS (Lezak, 1995; Pontón et al., 1996; O'Bryant et al., 2017; Benton, Hamsher, & Sivan, 2000)
This is a measure of lexical fluency abilities. Participants are required to generate as many words as possible within 60 seconds with the letters F, A, and S.
Time frame: 16 months
Animal Naming (Lezak, 1995; O'Bryant et al., 2017
This is a measure of semantic fluency abilities. Participants are required to generate as many animal names within 60 seconds.
Time frame: 16 months
Spanish SF-36 (Ware, 1992; Alonso, 1995; Ware, 2000)
This is a 36-item quality of life measure. The 36-itmes are related to various aspects of the participants' life which are rated on a Likert scale of 1-to-5. From these items, the following eight subscales are derived: vitality, physical functioning, bodily pain, general health perceptions, physical role functioning, emotional role functioning, social role function, and mental. Scores on the SF-36 range from 1-100 with higher scores being indicative of better quality of life outcomes.
Time frame: 16 months
Spanish Satisfaction with Life Questionnaire (Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985; Diener & Gonzalez, 2011; Vásquez, Duque, & Hervás, 2013)
This is a 5-item questionnaire that assesses life satisfaction. These five items consist of Likert-scale responses that range from 1-7. Total scores on this measure range from 1-35 with higher scores being indicative of better life satisfaction outcomes.
Time frame: 16 months
Spanish Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (Beck, Steer, & Brown, 1996)
This is a 21-item depression self-report measure. These items consist of Likert-scale responses that range from 0-3 with lower scores being indicative of less depressive symptomology. Total scores range from 0-63. Cut-offs for depression severity is based on available published cut-off scores and includes the following ranges: minimal (0-13), mild (14-19), moderate (20-28), and severe (29-63). Participants who obtain classifications in the minimal range will be indicative of better psychological functioning outcomes. Participants who have scores in the moderate and severe range will be indicative of worse psychological functioning.
Time frame: 16 months
Spanish Beck Anxiety Inventory (Beck & Steer, 1993)
This is a 21-item anxiety self-report measure. These items consist of Likert-scale responses that range from 0-3 with lower scores being indicative of less anxiety. Total scores range from 0-63. Cut-offs for anxiety severity is based on available published cut-off scores and includes the following ranges: minimal (0-7), mild (8-15), moderate (16-25), and severe (26-63). Participants who obtain classifications in the minimal range will be indicative of better psychological functioning outcomes. Participants who have scores in the moderate and severe range will be indicative of worse psychological functioning.
Time frame: 16 months