About the project
Background
The increase in survival rates and the number of people living with the long-term side effects of treatments has led to a growing need to identify, develop and test interventions that are effective in alleviating or preventing the development of these types of changes. Cognitive Rehabilitation is considered the first-line intervention for cancer-related cognitive impairment, and has been shown to be effective in improving cognitive functioning. Web-based Interventions are emerging in the field of Cognitive Rehabilitation, and may constitute a potentially valid form of intervention for cancer survivors who experience changes in cognitive abilities. However, studies on the effectiveness of these interventions are still scarce and are not available in Portugal either.
The project
CanCOG – Cognitive Rehabilitation in Cancer is a research project that aims to provide a specific web-based Cognitive Rehabilitation platform for cancer survivors in Portugal, to improve cognitive abilities.
This project arises from an international collaboration, intending to translate and culturally adapt the Cognitive Rehabilitation program developed for cancer survivors by a team of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), led by Professora Linda M. Ercoli – UCLA Cognitive Rehabilitation Intervention Program for Cancer Survivors . This program, developed and implemented in the United States of America (USA), was the product of years of clinical and research experience, and is currently being adapted for dissemination as a licensed intervention for hospitals in the USA. This is one of the available programs with data of proven efficacy to improve the cognitive abilities of cancer survivors.
Our goals
Translation and cultural adaptation of the UCLA Cognitive Rehabilitation Intervention Program for Cancer Survivors
Development of the digital platform and evaluation of the interface's usability
Efficacy study of the CanCOG program
To find out more about the CanCOG program, click here
TEAM
This project has a multidisciplinary research team, with experience in the fields of Psycho-Oncology, Neuropsychology and Neuroscience, Psychological Interventions (including Cognitive Rehabilitation) and Multimedia and Digital Technologies. Both the researchers who coordinate the project and the collaborating researchers are associated to several national Research Units, as well as a researcher from the prestigious American university, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
The research project will take place within the scope of a Doctoral Scholarship funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). The coordination of this project is assigned to the PhD Research Fellow and the respective Supervisor team.
The research team consists of the following members:
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Project Coordination
Ana Filipa Oliveira
Isabel M. Santos
Ana Torres
Linda M. Ercoli
Project researchers
Anabela Pereira
Sara Monteiro
Ana Cláudia Bártolo
Helena Mendonça Sousa
Collaborators
The project also has the collaboration of students from the University of Aveiro (UA), namely students who participate in the Scientific Initiation Program – BSc in Psychology (2nd and 3rd years) and 1st year of the MSc in Health Psychology and Neuropsychology (PIC-PSI) and students working on their MSc dissertation in Health Psychology and Neuropsychology.
Sofia Fernandes
Diâner Felipe Queiroz
Natasha Powidayko
João Queiroz
Liliana Loureiro
Mariana Ramalhete
Joana Costa
PROMOTERS
PARTNERS
