A Nurse-Led Cognitive Training Intervention for Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes.
Heather E Cuevas, Alexa K Stuifbergen, Sharon A Brown and 1 others
PMID 31335962WHAT IT FOUND
Adults with type 2 diabetes and perceived cognitive problems reported better diet, perceived memory, and perceived executive function after four nurse-led classes plus online BrainHQ training.
No control group, so gains cannot be separated from time, expectations, or either component.
Key findings
01Nineteen participants completed pre- and post-test measures; post-intervention scores improved, but only diet, perceived memory ability, and perceived executive function were significant.
02The intervention had four two-hour classes led by a registered nurse and three 45-minute online BrainHQ sessions each week; participants averaged 106 minutes of online practice weekly.
03Because the study had no comparison group and combined classes with online training, it cannot show whether either component caused the changes.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only 19 participants were analysed, and there was no comparison group, so change cannot be separated from time, expectations, or the combined intervention. The intervention included nurse-led classes and online BrainHQ training, so the study could not tell which component contributed. Outcomes were mostly self-reported diabetes self-care, perceived memory, and perceived executive function; objective cognitive testing was not done. Participants were volunteers with Internet access, transportation, and relatively good glucose control, so results may not apply to patients with worse control or less access. Recruitment and retention were limited: 93 patients were screened, but only 19 consented, and average online practice was 106 minutes per week, less than the requested 135 minutes. Some participants reported high time burden, with 32% strongly agreeing it was high.
Declared interests
The paper is marked as NIH extramural research support. The PI paid a $70 subscription fee per participant for BrainHQ, a Posit Science program. No author disclosure list is given in the supplied text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that nurse-led cognitive training or BrainHQ improves diabetes control or objective cognition. The study had only 19 participants, no comparison group, self-reported outcomes, and combined classes with online practice, so the improvements cannot be attributed to the intervention.