Metacognitive Strategy Training in Cancer-related Cognitive Impairment

CO-OP is a metacognitive strategy training intervention that will be used in this study. First, five functional, everyday life goals are identified collaboratively by the participant and interventionist. In the second meeting, we introduce the approach to the subject and teach the global cognitive strategy (i.e., GOAL-PLAN-DO-CHECK). In all subsequent sessions, this strategy is used as the main problem-solving framework to facilitate skill acquisition.The subject identifies a GOAL, and then is guided by the therapist to discover a PLAN to potentially achieve the goal. The subject is then asked to DO the plan (if feasible during the therapy session otherwise asked to complete at home prior to the next treatment session), and subsequently to CHECK to see if the plan worked, i.e. the goal was achieved. This process is repeated until satisfactory performance is met for each established goal.

Individuals in the attention control group will have dose-equivalent, weekly virtual contact through the Zoom platform for 12-weeks with a a trained interventionist not involved in CO-OP treatment. The control group will control for interpersonal interaction, maturation effects, and testing effects. The focus of each session will include: (1) social interaction characterized by warmth/empathy and (2) provision of usual care CRCI educational resources (e.g. exercise, using memory aids, minimizing distractions) from MD Anderson Cancer Center. These recommendations will be provided without further instruction. Any questions that arise regarding CRCI the subject is experiencing will be answered. The therapist will debrief with the subject on any changes in CRCI symptoms. The content and duration of each call will be tracked. Each session will be recorded with two randomly selected and reviewed for fidelity.