Abstract
BACKGROUND:Disorders of attention are common following stroke, reducing quality of life and limiting rehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE:To determine if cognitive rehabilitation can improve attention and functional outcomes in stroke survivors with attentional disorders.
METHODS:A summary of the Cochrane Review update by Loetscher et al. 2019, with comments.
RESULTS:Six studies with 223 participants were included: this was the same as the previous review (in 2013). Evidence quality was very low to moderate, and results suggest a beneficial impact on divided attention immediately after training, but no effect on any other outcome either immediately or at follow up timepoints.
CONCLUSIONS:The low methodological quality and small number of studies means current evidence provides limited clinical guidance. Clearly more research is needed to inform care: researchers must improve the methodological quality of studies, plus fully consider and report the aspects of attention and function addressed in their work.The aim of this commentary is to discuss in a rehabilitation perspective the published Cochrane Review “Cognitive rehabilitation for attention deficits following stroke” (Loetscher, Potter, Wong, & das Nair, 2019) by Loetscher T, Potter KJ, Wong D, das Nair R.1, under the direct supervision of the Cochrane Stroke Group. This Cochrane Corner is produced in agreement with NeuroRehabilitation by Cochrane Rehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE:To determine if cognitive rehabilitation can improve attention and functional outcomes in stroke survivors with attentional disorders.
METHODS:A summary of the Cochrane Review update by Loetscher et al. 2019, with comments.
RESULTS:Six studies with 223 participants were included: this was the same as the previous review (in 2013). Evidence quality was very low to moderate, and results suggest a beneficial impact on divided attention immediately after training, but no effect on any other outcome either immediately or at follow up timepoints.
CONCLUSIONS:The low methodological quality and small number of studies means current evidence provides limited clinical guidance. Clearly more research is needed to inform care: researchers must improve the methodological quality of studies, plus fully consider and report the aspects of attention and function addressed in their work.The aim of this commentary is to discuss in a rehabilitation perspective the published Cochrane Review “Cognitive rehabilitation for attention deficits following stroke” (Loetscher, Potter, Wong, & das Nair, 2019) by Loetscher T, Potter KJ, Wong D, das Nair R.1, under the direct supervision of the Cochrane Stroke Group. This Cochrane Corner is produced in agreement with NeuroRehabilitation by Cochrane Rehabilitation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 355-357 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | NeuroRehabilitation |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 13 Nov 2020 |
Keywords
- Stroke
- attention
- cognitive rehabilitation
- intervention
- review
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Rehabilitation
- Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation