INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 04 Program Schedule 02/15/2024 12:00 pm - 01:15 pm Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60) Poster Session 04: Neuroimaging \| Neurostimulation/Neuromodulation \| Teleneuropsychology/Technology Final Abstract #22 Clinical Research Adaptations in a Pandemic: Implementation of a Hybrid Neuropsychological Testing Model with Pediatric Brain Tumor Patients and Survivors Krystal Christopher, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States Angela Qian, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States Heather Stancel, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States Se-Kang Kim, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicinel, Houston, United States Alessandro Bernini, University of Texas, Austin, United States Cameron Martin, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, United States Caroline Dina, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, United States Maheen Rizi, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States Kelley Parson, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States Luz De Leon, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States Marianne Macleod, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States Sofia Herrera, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States Natasha Feuerbach, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States Kimberly Raghubar, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States Lisa Kahalley, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States Category: Teleneuropsychology/ Technology Keyword 1: pediatric neuropsychology Keyword 2: teleneuropsychology Keyword 3: cancer Objective: Telehealth gained popularity as the COVID-19 pandemic brought about physical distancing requirements. The field of neuropsychology adapted to the pandemic by trialing virtual administration of measures that were originally developed and validated for in-person administration. This resulted in questions about the reliability of virtually administered performance-based measures. A growing body of evidence has demonstrated similar results on performance tests administered virtually compared to in-person, although most of this work has been in adult populations. Prior to COVID-19, data collection was ongoing at Texas Children’s Hospital for studies of neurocognitive outcomes in pediatric brain tumor patients and survivors treated with proton radiotherapy, photon radiotherapy, or surgery alone. Due to COVID-19-related hospital restrictions and patient/staff safety concerns, the study team implemented a hybrid testing approach that involved a combination of in-person and virtual testing to minimize the amount of time examiners and patients were in the same exam room. This study compares serial neurocognitive test scores obtained via traditional in-person administration vs. hybrid (in-person + virtual) administration in a sample of pediatric brain tumor patients and survivors. Participants and Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of data collected from pediatric brain tumor patients and survivors enrolled on longitudinal neurocognitive surveillance studies. Participants included 124 pediatric brain tumor patients and survivors (M age at diagnosis = 10.53, M age at treatment = 12.05, M age at T1 = 13.75, M age at T2 = 15.16 years) who were administered the age-appropriate Wechsler Intelligence Scale (WISC-V or WAIS-IV) at two time points at least 6 months apart. Two groups were examined: (1) patients who received one in-person assessment and one hybrid assessment (Hybrid Group), and (2) patients who received two in-person assessments (No Hybrid Group). We compared IQ and index score means within patients and between groups by administration group. Results: There were no differences in IQ or index scores across time points between groups (No Hybrid vs. Hybrid). Results revealed that age at start of radiation was related to verbal comprehension at T2 (p <.01) with those starting radiation at a younger age having lower verbal comprehension scores. Notably, this relationship approached significance at T1 (p= 0.058). No other statistically significant associations were identified. Conclusions: By demonstrating consistency between groups, these results suggest that the hybrid model may be reliably implemented to perform neurocognitive assessments when in-person testing is not optimal. Hybrid administration is a feasible way to reduce contact between patient and provider, while maintaining reliable administration. Even beyond the pandemic, this may be an appropriate adaptation for assessing patients who are immunocompromised due to disease and treatment. Furthermore, the hybrid modality could inform remote test administration methods that have the potential to increase accessibility of neuropsychological services in the future.

Poster

02/15/2024
12:00 pm - 01:15 pm
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)

Poster Session 04: Neuroimaging | Neurostimulation/Neuromodulation | Teleneuropsychology/Technology

Final Abstract #22

Clinical Research Adaptations in a Pandemic: Implementation of a Hybrid Neuropsychological Testing Model with Pediatric Brain Tumor Patients and Survivors

Krystal Christopher, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
Angela Qian, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States
Heather Stancel, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
Se-Kang Kim, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicinel, Houston, United States
Alessandro Bernini, University of Texas, Austin, United States
Cameron Martin, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, United States
Caroline Dina, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, United States
Maheen Rizi, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
Kelley Parson, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
Luz De Leon, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
Marianne Macleod, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
Sofia Herrera, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
Natasha Feuerbach, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
Kimberly Raghubar, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
Lisa Kahalley, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States

Category: Teleneuropsychology/ Technology

Keyword 1: pediatric neuropsychology
Keyword 2: teleneuropsychology
Keyword 3: cancer

Objective:

Telehealth gained popularity as the COVID-19 pandemic brought about physical distancing requirements. The field of neuropsychology adapted to the pandemic by trialing virtual administration of measures that were originally developed and validated for in-person administration. This resulted in questions about the reliability of virtually administered performance-based measures. A growing body of evidence has demonstrated similar results on performance tests administered virtually compared to in-person, although most of this work has been in adult populations. Prior to COVID-19, data collection was ongoing at Texas Children’s Hospital for studies of neurocognitive outcomes in pediatric brain tumor patients and survivors treated with proton radiotherapy, photon radiotherapy, or surgery alone. Due to COVID-19-related hospital restrictions and patient/staff safety concerns, the study team implemented a hybrid testing approach that involved a combination of in-person and virtual testing to minimize the amount of time examiners and patients were in the same exam room. This study compares serial neurocognitive test scores obtained via traditional in-person administration vs. hybrid (in-person + virtual) administration in a sample of pediatric brain tumor patients and survivors.

Participants and Methods:

This study is a retrospective analysis of data collected from pediatric brain tumor patients and survivors enrolled on longitudinal neurocognitive surveillance studies. Participants included 124 pediatric brain tumor patients and survivors (M age at diagnosis = 10.53, M age at treatment = 12.05, M age at T1 = 13.75, M age at T2 = 15.16 years) who were administered the age-appropriate Wechsler Intelligence Scale (WISC-V or WAIS-IV) at two time points at least 6 months apart. Two groups were examined: (1) patients who received one in-person assessment and one hybrid assessment (Hybrid Group), and (2) patients who received two in-person assessments (No Hybrid Group). We compared IQ and index score means within patients and between groups by administration group.

Results:

There were no differences in IQ or index scores across time points between groups (No Hybrid vs. Hybrid). Results revealed that age at start of radiation was related to verbal comprehension at T2 (p <.01) with those starting radiation at a younger age having lower verbal comprehension scores. Notably, this relationship approached significance at T1 (p= 0.058). No other statistically significant associations were identified.

Conclusions:

By demonstrating consistency between groups, these results suggest that the hybrid model may be reliably implemented to perform neurocognitive assessments when in-person testing is not optimal. Hybrid administration is a feasible way to reduce contact between patient and provider, while maintaining reliable administration. Even beyond the pandemic, this may be an appropriate adaptation for assessing patients who are immunocompromised due to disease and treatment. Furthermore, the hybrid modality could inform remote test administration methods that have the potential to increase accessibility of neuropsychological services in the future.