A cognitive, occupation-based programme for people with multiple sclerosis (COB-MS)
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN11462710 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN11462710 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | Version 1 |
- Submission date
- 03/09/2019
- Registration date
- 04/09/2019
- Last edited
- 30/09/2024
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Nervous System Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
The aim of this research is to test the feasibility of running a large-scale trial of an occupational therapy intervention called a Cognitive Occupation-Based programme for people with Multiple Sclerosis (COB-MS), as well as its preliminary effectiveness. That is, the aim of the research is to assess whether or not it is possible to properly test this programme and whether or not it is likely to work. The study will focus on how acceptable the intervention is and how well the trial runs. Ten occupational therapists will run the COB-MS with 100 people with MS. This project has the potential to directly influence clinical practice and benefit the lives of people with MS, by enabling them to manage their disease symptoms in a positive way that allows them to live well with MS.
Cognitive impairments are common in multiple sclerosis and affect daily life in many ways. We propose a new way in which people living with MS can empower themselves to live active and fulfilling lives - a novel intervention that enables people with MS who are experiencing difficulties with their cognition to live positively. Here we propose an intervention that tackles cognitive difficulties early, allows patients to manage their own symptoms and is transferable to real-world situations.
Who can participate?
People with MS and occupational therapists who work with people with MS.
What does the study involve?
Participants will randomly be assigned to receive the COB-MS programme or treatment as usual. The COB-MS programme takes place over nine weeks in eight sessions lasting 60-90 minutes. Participants will be asked to fill in questionnaires before and after the treatment period. At the end of the period, the participants in the control group will be offered the COB-MS treatment. Occupational therapists taking part will be asked to provide their feedback on the treatment programme.
Added 23/09/2020: Due to the impact of COVID-19 this trial is now been conducted online: data collection and delivery of the intervention.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Potential benefits of participation include: access to a free cognitive occupation-based programme, designed specifically for people living with MS; informational benefits relating to the management of MS; and a greater understanding of the individual’s role in their MS management. When this research project is concluded, all participants will receive a summary of the main findings. Of note, it could take in excess of 6 months before final results are published.
Though there is no foreseen risk of participating, there is the potential that a person or persons may become upset when discussing cognitive or other difficulties, in which case, our research staff has the skills necessary to deal with such occurrences.
Where is the study run from?
National University of Ireland Galway
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
October 2019 to July 2022
Who is funding the study?
Health Research Board, Ireland
Who is the main contact?
Dr Sinéad Hynes
sinead.hynes@nuigalway.ie
Contact information
Dr Sinéad Hynes
Scientific
Scientific
Áras Moyola
School of Health Sciences
NUI Galway
Galway
H91 TK33
Ireland
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-3199-7355 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +353 (0)91 495624 |
| sinead.hynes@nuigalway.ie |
Study information
| Study design | Single-blind cluster-randomized control pilot trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Cluster randomised trial |
| Study setting(s) | Other |
| Study type | Quality of life |
| Participant information sheet | Not available in web format, please use contact details to request participant information sheet. |
| Scientific title | A Cognitive Occupation-Based programme for people with Multiple Sclerosis (COB-MS): a randomised pilot trial to improve cognition and daily functioning for people with multiple sclerosis |
| Study acronym | COB-MS |
| Study hypothesis | Given that the current study is a feasibility trial, hypotheses are not appropriate at this stage of research, However, the following are objectives of this feasibility trial: Objective 1: To field test the outcome measures and procedures used in the trial. Objective 2: To determine the preliminary efficacy of COB-MS in comparison with treatment as usual wait-list controls in improving everyday life challenges associated with cognitive difficulty and secondary outcomes related to cognition, mood, fatigue, quality of life and pain. Objective 3: To determine the acceptability and feasibility of the COB-MS and to investigate the barriers and facilitators to using COB-MS through: • Interviews with people who decline to take part; • Interviews with PwMS who participated in the COB-MS; and Focus groups with OTs who ran the COB-MS. Objective 4: To examine the effects of a patient-designed-and-informed participant information sheet with a standard, researcher-designed information sheet on recruitment to the trial (i.e. as a study-within-a-trial [SWAT]); rate of consent and relationship with participant retention; and understanding and preference regarding the two different participant information sheets. Objective 5: To determine the appropriateness of progression to a definitive trial through gathering and assessing key trial information, such as: • Retention of participants during intervention and follow-up; • Feasibility of chosen outcomes to measure efficacy of the interventions within a definitive trial; • Feasibility of randomisation methods, including allocation; • Rate of unblinding; and • Estimating intracluster correlation and sample size for definitive cluster RCT. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Approved 13/08/2019, Galway University Hospitals Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Research Office, Room 212, Research and Innovation Centre, NUI Galway, Ireland; +353 91 495312; ethics@nuigalway.ie), ref: C.A. 2231 |
| Condition | Multiple sclerosis |
| Intervention | This is a single-blind randomised control pilot trial. This study will use a treatment as usual, wait-list control group (TAU) comparison examined over four time points, as part of both preliminary clinical efficacy and feasibility outcomes: prior to and following the intervention, at 12 weeks follow-up and six-month follow-up. Follow-up data will be collected to gauge maintenance of the intervention gains, if evident. There will be two arms- COB-MS and TAU control. Occupational therapists (OT) will be used as stratification factors. After the participants have been assigned to their corresponding OT, they will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 rate to one of the arms through a web-based randomisation service. Therefore, each therapist will deliver both interventions, COB-MS and TAU, and will have the same number of participants in each group. To further feasibility testing of COB-MS implementation, OTs will recruit participants with MS (PwMS) where possible. The study will be single-blinded as the research assistant collecting the data will be blind to participant allocation. Participants with MS will know what arm of the study they have been allocated to. Structures will be in place that will increase the likelihood of blinding. The COB-MS research will follow the Medical Research Council’s (MRC) Framework for development and evaluation of RCTs for complex interventions to improve health that describes four phases: development; feasibility / piloting; evaluation and implementation. Here we are focused on the feasibility/piloting phase. Cognitive Occupation-Based Programme for People with MS: The Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist will be used here to describe the intervention. 1. Phrase that describes the intervention: An occupational therapy intervention aimed at improving daily life functioning for people with multiple sclerosis who are experiencing cognitive difficulties. 2. Rationale, theory, or goal of the elements essential to the intervention: The COB-MS is a patient-centred holistic programme which consist of eight sessions- two individual and six group-based. It focuses on managing demands of employment and daily life through education, remediation and adaption using compensatory strategies, routines and learning new techniques that can be integrated into daily contexts. It recognises the impact of emotion, motivation and other non-cognitive functions. The COB-MS looks at the context/environment within which the person lives in order to make strategies meaningful to the participant. The programme aims to help people meet their goals while managing their cognitive challenges. Table below shows brief content of each COB-MS session. The group sessions focus on aspects of cognition and cognitive rehabilitation. There is an emphasis on group discussion and peer learning. Participants have a chance to practice strategies in the group and at home. The aim of COB-MS is to equip people with MS with strategies to manage their own symptoms. Self-management interventions are relatively new in health research but have been found to be highly effective in the management of long-term conditions such as diabetes and arthritis. A number of steps have been taken in designing the COB-MS which addressed the maintenance of gains and continuation of strategies developed through the intervention – these include incorporating behaviour change principles into the COB-MS, integrating homework activities into weekly routines, providing people with MS with handbooks which detail each COB-MS session, setting regular goals and having a definitive list of strategies that work for that person at the end of the last COB-MS session. 3. Materials provided: The occupational therapist is provided with a facilitator handbook and PwMS provided with a participant handbook that details the content of the intervention. The handbooks that are provided to occupational therapists and PwMS are the essential components of the intervention. The handbooks are approximately 125 pages in length- each session is summarised as well as space for in-group and homework activities. Participants can keep the handbooks at the end of the intervention period and are encouraged to review them regularly. As the COB-MS is still in development and testing the handbooks is not yet available publicly. 4. Describe each of the procedures, activities, setting and/or processes used in the intervention: The COB-MS will take place in a community setting. The setting may vary per site but is likely to be in a room in which the occupational therapist is based in. If this is not possible then the budget allows for a community venue to be hired for the six weeks of the group intervention. The individual sessions will be in participants own homes, local community healthcare setting or equivalent. The COB-MS group receive two hours of one-to-one occupational therapy as well as six-hours of group-based occupational therapy focused on cognitive rehabilitation. Each group session has a mixture of theory/background discussion on aspects of cognition (10 mins) and strategies (15 mins). This is followed by opportunities to practice strategies (15 mins) and discuss usefulness, application to own life and goals (20 mins). The strategies that are included in the handbook are evidence-based- they have either been proven effective with an MS population [e.g. Story memory technique (Chiaravalloti et al., 2005)] or with a population with brain injury [e.g. Goal Management Training (Levine et al., 2000)]. In the COB-MS the focus is on translation to daily life tasks and different areas of cognition in one intervention. Occupational therapists will be provided with ongoing supervision by phone, email or in person at their workplace, if requested (session-specific supervision). 5. Who is the intervention provider? The COB-MS is designed to be run by a qualified occupational therapists who has experience and expertise in managing everyday life challenges. The occupational therapists receives training in the COB-MS, as well as ongoing support if required. The lead applicant (author of handbook) will be responsible for training the occupational therapists and along with postdoc will be available throughout for supervision and guidance. By using multiple therapists to carry out the intervention, feasibility of the COB-MS in practice can be seen. 6. Describe the modes of delivery: Session one involves an initial visit with an occupational therapist who introduces the programme and helps the participant set some personal goals. There are then six once-weekly group sessions with a small group (between 5-9 people). The group sessions are then be followed by a final individual session that takes place two weeks after the last group session. Each COB-MS session is set to last between 60-90 minutes. Clinical judgement will be required to assess the group/individual in terms of tolerance and fatigue. 7. Location(s) where the intervention occurs: The first and last sessions take place in a location that is convenient to the PwMS. This is often the person’s home but it may also be in the occupational therapist’s workplace. The group sessions take place in a private room that is available for the occupational therapist to use in their own workplace. Each occupational therapist will run the COB-MS with 9-10 participants. 8. When and How Much: There are eight COB-MS Session which run over nine weeks. They are once-weekly with the final session happening two weeks after the penultimate session. The COB-MS sessions last between 60-90 minutes. The recommended duration spent on homework is 30 minutes per day 5 days/week but this is likely to vary and will be monitored through the study. Each participant will receive the intervention once. 9. Tailoring: The intervention is planned to be personalised. This happens through the setting of individual goals in the first session. Participants are encouraged to apply what they are learning in the group sessions to their own lives and goals. PwMS can also personalise the intervention when they have one-to-one sessions with the occupational therapist. The intervention dose and content is the same for all participants. 10. Modifications: The intervention should not be modified during the course of the study. Fidelity measures will be in place to address this. 11. Planned fidelity assessment: Occupational therapists will keep a record of the intervention session content, length and other important information after each session. A sample (two per COB-MS group) of COB-MS sessions per occupational therapist will be audio/video-recorded and compared for intervention fidelity, with permission from occupational therapist and group members. 12. The extent to which the intervention was delivered as planned: This data will be captured in the study to allow for complete feasibility data to be collected and future trial planning. Participants will be asked to rate the occupational therapists at the end of the COB-MS sessions on a number of areas relevant to the delivery of the intervention. This will be anonymous, data will be pooled and occupational therapists will be aware of this in advance. Occupational Therapist Rating- Answered via six-point Likert scale, ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (6). 1. My OT expertly knew about the COB-MS programme. 2. The OT was empathetic to the group. 3. I was confident in my OT. 4. The OT communicated well. 5. My OT was well prepared. 6. The OT was effective at delivering the intervention. Engagement with the intervention: Engagement with the intervention will be used as a proxy for compliance with weekly home-based activities. Engagement will be recorded by participants in their handbook. This will include self-monitoring of completion of home-based activities and rating on a weekly basis taking account of effort, intention, time spent and actual completion. This will be collected at the end of the final COB-MS session. Occupational therapists will discuss home-based activities as a “Review” activity at the beginning of each group session. Here participants will have the opportunity to reflect on home-based activities and discuss what worked well and what did not work. It may also act as an incentive to complete activities in advance of group sessions. Control Condition: Participants randomised to the control arm of the study will receive the COB-MS at the end of the data collection period. This is particularly important given that OTs will be involved in recruiting and we do not wish impact on clinical relationships. Control participants will be assessed at the same time points as the intervention arm. Control data (following COB-MS) will not be analysed. Participants will also be asked to fill in a form indicating any services/ interventions they have had during the intervention period- occupational therapy being the most important to record here. This will allow for the estimation of what treatment as usual consists of for the control participants. It is expected that the risk of contamination will be low as cognitive rehabilitation is not standard input for patients with MS. Occupational therapy treatment is also not regular part of usual care for people living in the community and if it is it would generally be of lower intensity and the focus is not likely to be on cognition. This is will be monitored throughout the study and a sensitivity analysis will be used to monitor the occupational therapy and cognitive rehabilitation contribution in each group. In order to reduce the chance of contamination occupational therapists trained in the COB-MS will be asked not to pass on their knowledge to non-COB-MS trained occupational therapists. Occupational therapists will be asked to sign a declaration as part of the consenting process stating that they will not share their knowledge or the manual/resources with non-trained occupational therapists and will not use COB-MS methods outside the trial. Considering patient burden, therapist burden, available resources and the challenge of ensuring that the active comparator is standard per therapist it was decided not to use an active control group for this feasibility study. The higher costs associated with an active control coupled with the risk of a higher drop-out rate for the control condition led to the decision not to use an active control. Added 23/09/2020: Due to the impact of COVID-19 this trial is now been conducted online: data collection and delivery of the intervention. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure | Goal Attainment Scaling at the 12-week follow-up |
| Secondary outcome measures | Current secondary outcome measures as of 25/11/2019: At 12 weeks and 6 months follow-up: 1. Prediction of future cognitive decline measured using the Symbol Digit Modality Test 2. Cognitive function assessed by the California Verbal Learning Test II 3. Visual attention and task switching assessed by the Trail Making Test 4. Visuospatial learning and memory assessed using the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised 5. Memory assessed by the Everyday Memory Questionnaire Revised and by a relative's report 6. Impact of fatigue on participant’s life assessed by the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale 7. Self-efficacy assessed using the Generalised Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) 8. Quality of life assessed by the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQoL-54) 9. Mental health assessed using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) Previous secondary outcome measures: At 12 weeks and 6 months follow-up: 1. Prediction of future cognitive decline measured using the Symbol Digit Modality Test 2. Cognitive function assessed by the California Verbal Learning Test II 3. Visual attention and task switching assessed by the Trail Making Test 4. Memory assessed by the Everyday Memory Questionnaire 5. Self-report of cognitive difficulties assessed by the Perceived Deficits Questionnaire 6. Trait and state anxiety assessed by the Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory 7. Perceived stress assessed by the Perceived Stress Scale 8. Impact of fatigue on participant’s life assessed by the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale 9. Quality of life assessed by the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life -54 (MSQoL-45) 10. Self-efficacy assessed by the Generalised Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) 11. Pain assessed by the Brief Pain inventory 12. Depression assessed by the Beck’s Depression Inventory II |
| Overall study start date | 01/07/2019 |
| Overall study end date | 01/07/2022 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Other |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | People with MS: N=120 Occupational Therapists: N=15 |
| Total final enrolment | 94 |
| Participant inclusion criteria | People with MS: 1. Aged 18 years of age or older 2. Fluent in written and spoken English 3. Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis 4. Cognitive difficulties, as shown by a score of >22 on the MSNQ 5. Clinically stable (we define “clinically stable” as not having an active relapse) 6. Can provide informed consent 7. No neurologic history other than MS, including evidence of current dementia 8. No history of major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder I or II 9. No history of diagnosed substance use or dependence disorder 10. Not currently undergoing any other form of cognitive rehabilitation 11. Living in the community Occupational Therapists: 1. Currently working in Ireland as an occupational therapist 2. CORU-registered 3. Have experience working with people with MS 4. Can commit to the requirements of the study |
| Participant exclusion criteria | People with MS: 1. Cognitive impairment that would affect reliable participation or capacity to give informed consent 2. Are incarcerated or institutionalized 3. Significant neurological condition or organic brain damage (unrelated to MS). Occupational Therapists: 1. Not meeting the inclusion criteria |
| Recruitment start date | 01/10/2019 |
| Recruitment end date | 01/11/2021 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Ireland
Study participating centre
National University of Ireland Galway
University Rd
Galway
H91
Ireland
Galway
H91
Ireland
Sponsor information
NUI Galway
University/education
University/education
NUI Galway
University Road
Galway
H91 TK33
Ireland
| Phone | +353 (0) 91 49524411 |
|---|---|
| vpresearch@nuigalway.ie | |
| Website | https://www.nuigalway.ie |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/03bea9k73 |
Funders
Funder type
Government
Health Research Board
Government organisation / Local government
Government organisation / Local government
- Alternative name(s)
- Health Research Board, Ireland, An Bord Taighde Sláinte, HRB
- Location
- Ireland
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 30/06/2024 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Stored in publicly available repository |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Our knowledge translation plan not only includes international peer-reviewed publications but also dissemination to lay audiences within Ireland who are living with multiple sclerosis through presentations at a local level. The knowledge translation plan will target people with MS, the research community, funding bodies, and health care providers. The project’s knowledge mobilisation plan will include a minimum of four Open Access publications. This is important in order to improve transparency and validity of research and to keep the public aware of progress. These publications will focus on publication of the study protocol, aspects of PPI in the project, and results from the feasibility study, to include qualitative data and quantitative data. Results will be published regardless of the outcome of the studies. For two of the four planned publications we intend to publish through the HRB Open Research. This is being used for a number of reasons including fast publication, value money, transparent and inclusive reporting and to allow for replication of the study. It will also help the team to gauge interest in the research and gain feedback, as well as a means for potential future collaborations. Planned publications include the following: • Publication on protocol for publication will be prepared. • Publication on SWAT will be prepared. • Publication on COB-MS acceptability will be prepared. • Publication on pilot trial results will be prepared for “Pilot and Feasibility Studies” journal. Social media updates will be maintained by the PPI research assistant on the team. They will particularly focus on Twitter and the public news section of MS Ireland website, with permission. A lay summary will be available on the NUIG OT Research website in order to keep the public updated with progress and results. MS Ireland’s Research eZine will be used to summarise the study results. This is accessed by people with MS as well as health care practitioners. Information sessions will be held for interested health care professionals at MS Ireland Annual conference. If proven effective at definitive trial, there is the opportunity to run training sessions for relevant health care professionals in the future. Following final analysis national dissemination events will take place in five locations. The PPI team member will be involved in deciding on the best locations, along with sourcing appropriate venues. During this event the results of the study will be presented and a discussion will be facilitated with members of the public, and interested health care professionals, around the impact of the results and future plans. The event will include a mixture of presentation, small group discussions facilitated by a research team member, and overall group discussion and consensus. The information and feedback gathered at these events will help inform a protocol for future definitive trial. There will also be scholarly dissemination through national and international conference presentations and peer reviewed publications in health care journals. It is anticipated that one national and one international conference will be attended each year. In addition, following final analysis interested team members will, depending on trial results, identify future funding opportunities for a definitive trial. A work plan will be devised for funding submission. Trial report will be prepared and sent to the funders, following required template. Authorship decisions will be made in line with the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors Guidelines for Authorship |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study will be stored in a publically available repository. The data will be shared publically. The data access procedures are yet to be fully decided. Data will be shared at the following locations: 1. Irish Social Science Data Archive (ISSDA)http://www.ucd.ie/issda/data 2. Irish Qualitative Data Archive (IQDA) at https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/iqda |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol article | protocol | 17/03/2020 | 19/03/2020 | Yes | No |
| Plain English results | 05/12/2022 | No | Yes | ||
| Other publications | 26/07/2023 | 27/07/2023 | Yes | No | |
| Dataset | 28/03/2024 | No | No | ||
| Preprint results | 27/03/2024 | 28/03/2024 | No | No | |
| Statistical Analysis Plan | Sap is within protocol | 17/03/2020 | 28/03/2024 | No | No |
| Results article | 24/09/2024 | 24/09/2024 | Yes | No |
Additional files
Editorial Notes
24/09/2024: Publication reference added.
28/03/2024: Publication references, dataset, preprint added
14/03/2024: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The intention to publish date was changed from 30/06/2023 to 30/06/2024.
2. The overall end date was changed from 31/12/2021 to 01/07/2022.
3. The plain English summary was updated to reflect these changes.
27/07/2023: Publication reference added.
05/12/2022: The following changes have been made:
1. A graphic explaining the trial and its results in plain English has been added.
2. The intention to publish date has been changed from 31/12/2022 to 30/06/2023.
13/12/2021: Total final enrolment added.
23/09/2020: Recruitment to this study is no longer paused. The interventions and plain English summary were updated.
16/04/2020: Due to current public health guidance, recruitment for this study has been paused.
19/03/2020: Publication reference added.
25/11/2019: The following changes have been made:
1. The study design has been changed from a randomised controlled trial to a cluster-randomised controlled trial.
2. The Participant inclusion criteria: Target number of participants has been changed from "People with MS: N=116 Occupational Therapists: N=10" to "People with MS: N=120 Occupational Therapists: N=15".
3. The total target enrolment has been changed from 126 to 135.
4. The secondary outcome measures have been changed.
04/09/2019: Trial’s existence confirmed by Galway University Hospitals
