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Investigating the Efficacy of ApplTree on Prospective Memory in Stroke

NCT ID: NCT05658315

Last Updated: 2022-12-20

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

6 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-01-31

Study Completion Date

2023-08-31

Brief Summary

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After a stroke, people can experience memory problems, including difficulty remembering to do things in the future - termed "prospective memory". This can impact their ability to carry out important activities of daily living (e.g., taking medication), independence, and quality of life. Technology-based memory aids, including smartphone applications, can compensate for memory difficulties and are recommended as a 'practice standard' for improving prospective memory impairment following stroke. ApplTree is a smartphone application that was designed for people with memory and attention problems. Users can enter details of future tasks and events and ApplTree then prompts them to remind them to complete these at a pre-specified time. This study will investigate whether ApplTree helps people who have had a stroke and experience prospective memory difficulties to successfully complete prospective memory tasks. It will also explore whether they find ApplTree helpful and easy-to-use.

Detailed Description

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Background: Prospective memory impairment is common following stroke and can significantly impact daily functioning and quality of life. Studies show that technological memory aids, including smartphone applications, are effective in helping compensate for PM difficulties. Wilson (2021) investigated the efficacy of ApplTree, a smartphone reminder application, in three community-dwelling stroke participants with PM difficulties using a multiple baseline across participants, single case experimental design (SCED). Results indicated that ApplTree did not lead to statistically significant improvements in prospective memory performance. However, methodological issues (e.g., self-report and limited response format on Memory Log regarding prospective memory task completion) were highlighted that may have made it difficult to detect any positive effects of ApplTree.

Aims: The proposed study will replicate Wilson (2021) whilst addressing these methodological issues. It is hypothesised that prospective memory performance will improve from baseline to intervention phases, and that ApplTree will be acceptable to participants.

Methods: Participants who have had a stroke and currently experience prospective memory difficulties will be randomly assigned to a 5-, 6- or 7-week baseline phase, where they will continue to do what they normally do to remember tasks in the future. They will then complete training in the use of ApplTree and a 5-week intervention phase, where they will use ApplTree to remind them to complete prospective memory tasks. This will allow us to compare prospective memory performance with and without ApplTree to see if ApplTree makes any difference. A nominated person (e.g., a partner) will record prospective performance during baseline and intervention phases on a Memory Log. Subjective feedback from participants and their nominated person about their experiences of using ApplTree will be gathered after study completion.

Practical Applications: The Stroke Association (2021) have highlighted cognitive and memory difficulties as a top priority for stroke rehabilitation research. This study will contribute to the growing literature on neuropsychological rehabilitation for stroke survivors. Should ApplTree demonstrate efficacy for improving PM performance and be acceptable to participants, it may have utility for stroke rehabilitation.

Conditions

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Stroke (CVA) or TIA Memory Impairment

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

A multiple baseline across participants, single case experimental design (SCED) will be used. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a 5-, 6-, or 7-week baseline phase. They will then complete training in the use of ApplTree and a 5-week intervention phase.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Baseline

Participants will be randomly assigned to either a 5-, 6-, or 7-week baseline phase.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

ApplTree intervention

Following baseline, participants will complete training in the use of ApplTree and a 5-week intervention phase, where they will utilise ApplTree to set reminders about weekly prospective memory tasks.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

ApplTree smartphone application

Intervention Type OTHER

ApplTree is a smartphone reminder application which allows the user to enter details of future tasks and events and then prompts the user to remind them to complete these at a pre-specified time. ApplTree was designed with people who experience memory and attention difficulties in mind and has a customisable user interface design to support attention and short-term memory when entering PM tasks. ApplTree was developed by Professor Jonathan Evans and Dr Matthew Jamieson (see Jamieson et al., 2020) and is owned by the University of Glasgow.

Interventions

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ApplTree smartphone application

ApplTree is a smartphone reminder application which allows the user to enter details of future tasks and events and then prompts the user to remind them to complete these at a pre-specified time. ApplTree was designed with people who experience memory and attention difficulties in mind and has a customisable user interface design to support attention and short-term memory when entering PM tasks. ApplTree was developed by Professor Jonathan Evans and Dr Matthew Jamieson (see Jamieson et al., 2020) and is owned by the University of Glasgow.

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

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Smartphone reminder tool

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Community-dwelling individuals who have had a medically-confirmed stroke that occurred at least 3 months prior to recruitment
* Participants must have self- or other-reported prospective memory difficulties
* Participants must share accommodation with their nominated person
* Participants must own and be competent in the use of a smartphone with a reliable internet connection. Nominated persons must also own and be competent in the use of a smartphone and this phone must be separate to that owned by the participants.
* Participants must have capacity to provide informed consent
* Participants must be aged 18 years or over

Exclusion Criteria

* Index stroke \<3 months prior to recruitment
* Individuals who do not have capacity to provide informed consent
* Non-fluent English speakers
* Aged \<18yrs
* Aphasia (a comprehension and communication disorder that may result from a stroke) that is of a level of severity where it would impact on participants' ability to interact with the ApplTree app and/or complete the study measures
* Diagnosed pre-existing neurological condition
* Psychiatric symptoms (e.g., depression) of sufficient severity to prevent engagement with the study
* Pre-existing dementia or acquired brain injury
* Cognitive impairment of sufficient severity that it would prevent the participant from using ApplTree
* Do not currently use a smartphone
* Physical, visual or auditory impairment which, if uncorrected, would prevent the participant from using a smartphone
* Currently participating in other research
* Currently receiving a neuropsychological rehabilitation intervention specifically targeting PM performance
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Jonathan J Evans, BSc, PsyD, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

University of Glasgow

Central Contacts

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Corinna A Stewart, BA, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 0141 211 3920

Email: [email protected]

Jonathan J Evans, BSc, PsyD, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 0141 211 0694

Email: [email protected]

Other Identifiers

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GN22ST389

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id