Musical Training Programme to Improve Neurocognitive Functioning of Children Surviving Brain Tumours

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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We aim to conduct a feasibility study to determine the feasibility and suitability of implementing a musical training program for children surviving brain tumours. This study will demonstrate the feasibility of implementing a musical training program in improving the neurocognitive functioning of surviving brain tumours.

Detailed Description
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Brain tumour is the second most common childhood cancer in Hong Kong. Evidence shows that cancer and its treatments have long-term and lasting adverse effects on the neurocognitive functioning of paediatric brain tumour survivors, including the impairment of intellectual development and deficits in attention, working memory, processing speed and executive functions. There has been an increase in the use of musical training to promote the neuro-rehabilitation of patients suffering from stroke and Parkinson's disease, and to improve reading skills and academic achievement in young poor readers, and to enhance children's cognitive development. We conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) from 2017 to 2018 to examine the effectiveness of musical training on psychological outcomes and quality of life in Chinese paediatric brain tumour survivors. The results showed that participants who received a weekly 45-min lesson on musical training for 52 weeks (intervention group) reported statistically significant fewer depressive symptoms, higher levels of self-esteem, and better quality of life than those who received placebo intervention (control group) at 12-month demonstrating the effectiveness of musical training intervention. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether musical training can also be used to improve neurocognitive functioning, in particular the attention, processing speed, and executive functions of children surviving brain tumours. The overall aim of this proposed study will be to assess the feasibility of a musical training program in improving the neurocognitive functioning of children surviving brain tumours. The objectives of this feasibility study are as follows: To ascertain the feasibility of recruitment and data collection in the outpatient clinic of the Hong Kong Children's Hospital; To assess the response and retention rates of the study; To examine the content of the proposed musical training program for its appropriateness, comprehensiveness and duration to the target participants; To evaluate the appropriateness and feasibility of using various assessment tools in measuring the intelligence, attention, processing speed and executive functions of the paediatric brain tumour survivors; and To assess any changes in neurocognitive functioning of children surviving brain tumours after receiving musical training for 52 weeks.

Official Title
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Feasibility Study of a Musical Training Program in Improving the Neurocognitive Functioning of Children Surviving Brain Tumours

Conditions
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Cancer Childhood, Brain Tumor

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Musical Training Program


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: children who have completed cancer treatment at least 2 months previously; aged between 7 and 16 years, able to speak Cantonese and read Chinese, and those who have not undertaken any musical training following their cancer diagnosis. Exclusion Criteria: 1. those survivors with evidence of cancer recurrence or second malignancy in their medical records

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 7 Years
Maximum Age: 16 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Musical Training<br>All subjects in the intervention group will receive a weekly 45-minute lesson, one-to-one musical training for 52 weeks. | Other: Musical Training Program<br>* a weekly 45-minute lesson, one-to-one musical training<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Recruitment rate of the study | the proportion of subjects who are eligible and invited and consent to participate. | at baseline before the start of the intervention | 
| Response rate of the study | The proportion of subjects who complete the questionnaires and assessments at baseline and 12 months after starting the intervention | at baseline and 12 months after starting the intervention | 
| Retention rate of the study | The proportion of subjects who complete the whole intervention from baseline to 12 months. | at baseline and 12 months after starting the intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Nonverbal intelligence scores of the subject | Measured by the Test of Nonverbal Intelligence, 4th edition (TONI-4) | at baseline and 12 months after starting the intervention | 
| Attention scores of the subject | Measured by the Digit Span | at baseline and 12 months after starting the intervention | 
| Processing speed scores of the subject | Measured by the Children's Color Trails Test (CCTT) | at baseline and 12 months after starting the intervention | 
| Executive functions scores of the subject | Measured by the Children's Color Trails Test (CCTT) | at baseline and 12 months after starting the intervention |