Avani C Modi1,2, Constance A Mara1,2, Matthew Schmidt3, Aimee W Smith1, Luke Turnier1, Shari L Wade1,2. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. 2. College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati. 3. Instructional Design and Technology, College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, University of Cincinnati.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in emotional and behavioral functioning and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) following a web-based executive functioning (EF) intervention open pilot trial (e.g., Epilepsy Journey) for adolescents with epilepsy. METHODS: Adolescents with an established diagnosis of epilepsy, EF deficits, and without developmental disorders participated in a single-arm trial of Epilepsy Journey. Epilepsy Journey is a gamified, online learning environment comprised of 10 learning modules targeting EF deficits (e.g., working memory, organization) and tailored to epilepsy with accompanying telehealth problem-solving sessions. Adolescents completed questionnaires assessing emotional and behavioral functioning and HRQOL at baseline, posttreatment, and 2 follow-ups . Longitudinal mixed models and logistic regression analyses were used for these secondary analyses. RESULTS: 39 adolescents were recruited for Epilepsy Journey (Mage=15.3 years; 67% female; 87% White: Non-Hispanic; 39% experienced seizures in the past 3 months). Preliminary data indicate significant improvements in caregiver-reported Externalizing symptoms, Behavioral Symptom Index scores and Adaptive Skills from baseline to 5-month follow-up. Significant improvements were observed for caregiver-reported Mood/Behavior and self-reported Impact, Cognitive Functioning, Executive Functioning, and Sleep subscales of the PedsQL Epilepsy Module. Clinically significant improvements (e.g., clinical/at-risk to normative levels) in behavioral and quality of life domains were also noted. CONCLUSION: Epilepsy Journey appears to contribute to changes in emotional and behavioral functioning and HRQOL in adolescents with epilepsy. Given the proof of concept trial format of this study, an important future direction is to conduct a randomized controlled trial with a larger, generalizable cohort of adolescents with epilepsy.
OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in emotional and behavioral functioning and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) following a web-based executive functioning (EF) intervention open pilot trial (e.g., Epilepsy Journey) for adolescents with epilepsy. METHODS: Adolescents with an established diagnosis of epilepsy, EF deficits, and without developmental disorders participated in a single-arm trial of Epilepsy Journey. Epilepsy Journey is a gamified, online learning environment comprised of 10 learning modules targeting EF deficits (e.g., working memory, organization) and tailored to epilepsy with accompanying telehealth problem-solving sessions. Adolescents completed questionnaires assessing emotional and behavioral functioning and HRQOL at baseline, posttreatment, and 2 follow-ups . Longitudinal mixed models and logistic regression analyses were used for these secondary analyses. RESULTS: 39 adolescents were recruited for Epilepsy Journey (Mage=15.3 years; 67% female; 87% White: Non-Hispanic; 39% experienced seizures in the past 3 months). Preliminary data indicate significant improvements in caregiver-reported Externalizing symptoms, Behavioral Symptom Index scores and Adaptive Skills from baseline to 5-month follow-up. Significant improvements were observed for caregiver-reported Mood/Behavior and self-reported Impact, Cognitive Functioning, Executive Functioning, and Sleep subscales of the PedsQL Epilepsy Module. Clinically significant improvements (e.g., clinical/at-risk to normative levels) in behavioral and quality of life domains were also noted. CONCLUSION: Epilepsy Journey appears to contribute to changes in emotional and behavioral functioning and HRQOL in adolescents with epilepsy. Given the proof of concept trial format of this study, an important future direction is to conduct a randomized controlled trial with a larger, generalizable cohort of adolescents with epilepsy.
Authors: Shari L Wade; Nicolay C Walz; JoAnne Carey; Kendra M Williams; Jennifer Cass; Luke Herren; Erin Mark; Keith Owen Yeates Journal: J Head Trauma Rehabil Date: 2010 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 2.710
Authors: Avani C Modi; Ana M Gutierrez-Colina; Janelle L Wagner; Gigi Smith; Katherine Junger; Heather Huszti; Constance A Mara Journal: Epilepsy Behav Date: 2018-12-07 Impact factor: 2.937
Authors: J K Austin; S M Perkins; C S Johnson; P S Fastenau; A W Byars; T J deGrauw; D W Dunn Journal: Epilepsy Behav Date: 2011-07-03 Impact factor: 2.937
Authors: Avani C Modi; Matthew Schmidt; Aimee W Smith; Luke Turnier; Noah Glaser; Shari L Wade Journal: Epilepsy Behav Date: 2017-06-07 Impact factor: 2.937
Authors: Katherine W Follansbee-Junger; Krista A Mann; Shanna M Guilfoyle; Diego A Morita; James W Varni; Avani C Modi Journal: Epilepsy Behav Date: 2016-07-23 Impact factor: 2.937
Authors: Shari L Wade; Terry Stancin; Michael Kirkwood; Tanya Maines Brown; Kendra M McMullen; H Gerry Taylor Journal: J Head Trauma Rehabil Date: 2014 May-Jun Impact factor: 2.710