Optimising communication function in primary brain tumour: a randomised controlled trial of CanCommunicate

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Oncology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Brain tumours significantly impact communication abilities and quality of life.
• Effective communication interventions are vital for patients undergoing cancer treatment.
• Current care may not adequately address the complex communication needs of brain tumour survivors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of the CanCommunicate intervention in improving perceived communication disability.
• To evaluate the impact of CanCommunicate on the quality of life for individuals with brain tumours.
• To compare CanCommunicate's effectiveness against usual care in a randomised trial.

Main Methods:

• A randomised controlled trial with a waitlist control group was employed.
• Participants received either immediate CanCommunicate intervention or were placed on a waitlist.
• Communication and quality of life outcomes were measured using validated questionnaires (CAT DQ, FACT-G, LCQ) and interviews.

Main Results:

• The CanCommunicate group showed significant improvement in the CAT DQ compared to the waitlist control.
• Post-intervention, participants who completed CanCommunicate demonstrated significant improvements in both CAT DQ and LCQ scores.
• While not statistically significant between groups, trends suggested positive impacts on quality of life measures.

Conclusions:

• Communication interventions, like CanCommunicate, offer tangible benefits for brain tumour patients.
• Tailored, goal-oriented communication strategies are essential for rehabilitation.
• Further research can optimize communication interventions for improved patient outcomes.