Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39313688›Full record

Trial reportNeurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology2025

A cluster-randomised controlled feasibility trial evaluating the Cognitive Occupation-Based programme for people with Multiple Sclerosis (COB-MS).

Sinéad M Hynes, Christopher P Dwyer, Alberto Alvarez-Iglesias, Fionnuala Rogers, Robert A Joyce, Megan H Oglesby, Anusha Moses, Eimear Bane, Timothy J Counihan, Beatrice Charamba and 1 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Sinéad M HynesDiscipline of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3199-7355
Christopher P DwyerHEA Performance & Department of Teacher Education, Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5935-4338
Alberto Alvarez-IglesiasHealth Research Board Clinical Research Facility, University of Galway and School of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5011-9008
Fionnuala RogersDiscipline of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland. rogersf2@cardiff.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1001-7653
Robert A JoyceDiscipline of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5572-0804
Megan H OglesbyDiscipline of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8772-5546
Anusha MosesDiscipline of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0267-571X
Eimear BaneDiscipline of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5318-3352
Timothy J CounihanDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8305-0174
Beatrice CharambaDiscipline of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6579-2665
COB-MS PPI Advisory Panel 1

Funding

Health Research Board DIFA-FA-2018-027
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThere is a high prevalence of cognitive difficulties in MS, but despite this, there are few programmes targeting cognition that focus on the ability to function well in everyday life. The Cognitive Occupation-Based programme for people with Multiple Sclerosis (COB-MS), an occupation-focused cognitive intervention, was developed to address this. It addresses both the functional difficulties and the wide-ranging symptoms that present in MS.

objectiveHere we report on the results of a cluster-randomised controlled feasibility trial (ISRCTN11462710; registered 4th September 2019) evaluating the COB-MS in terms of feasibility and initial efficacy as a cognitive intervention for people with MS.

methodThe eight-session COB-MS intervention was delivered remotely by occupational therapists to participants with MS in the intervention group. Following the end of the trial the COB-MS was delivered to the wait-list control group. Data was collected from people with MS experiencing cognitive difficulties at baseline, post-intervention, 12-weeks, and 6-month follow-up. The primary outcome measure was the Goal Attainment Scaling at 12 weeks. Data was also collected in the domains of cognition, quality of life, and mood.

resultsOne hundred and eighteen people with MS and cognitive difficulties were randomised to either usual care (n = 60) or COB-MS intervention (n = 58). Ninety-four participants were retained at 6-month follow-up. The COB-MS was found to be feasible, including trial procedures and protocol. Data indicates that the COB-MS is accepted by participants and had positive impacts on daily life. Those allocated to the COB-MS group had a significant improvement in the primary outcome compared to the control condition. Progression criteria set for the feasibility trial have been met therefore further testing of the COB-MS at a definitive trial is supported by the results.

conclusionThe results provide a strong basis for a pathway to a future definitive trial of COB-MS, with respect to both feasibility and preliminary, clinical efficacy.

trial registrationISRCTN11462710 Date of registration: 4th September 2019.

Indexed as

Cognitive DysfunctionFeasibility StudiesMultiple SclerosisOccupational TherapyAdultCognitive Behavioral TherapyFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedOutcome Assessment, Health CareQuality of LifeTreatment OutcomeCluster randomised controlled trialCognitive rehabilitationFeasibilityMultiple sclerosisOccupational therapy

Identifiers

PMID39313688
PMCPMC11698819

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.