Article

The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the maintenance of clinical gains from a
structured memory intervention programme. Efficacy of the programme was initially
demonstrated in RR, a woman with moderate-to-severe memory impairment following
colloid cyst removal. In the current study (Svoboda and Richards, 2009), we
examined RR's day-to-day memory functioning 18 months after completion of the
intervention programme. Design: Within-subject A(1)B(1)A(2)B(2)B(3) single-case
experimental design. Setting: Outpatient memory rehabilitation clinic.
Intervention: A theory-driven training programme in the use of commercially
available smartphones for individuals with moderate-to-severe memory impairment.
Main measures: A phone call task was used as an objective measure of prospective
memory function. Self-report, ecologically valid questionnaires were also
completed to further assess generalization of smartphone use to day-to-day memory
function. Results: Eighteen months after intervention, RR completed 80% of
scheduled calls using the smartphone, a rate significantly higher than at
baseline (40%) and comparable to her success rate immediately following
intervention (90%) and at the four-month follow-up (90%). Responses to
questionnaires indicated that RR felt more confident in her ability to handle
memory-demanding situations and was making fewer memory mistakes. This favourable
outcome was not found with the use of another smartphone brand for which training
was not received. Conclusions: Results from ecologically valid measures of memory
functioning demonstrated robust maintenance of independent commercial smartphone
use over an 18-month period, with increases observed in independence, confidence
and real-life memory functioning. The findings further suggest poor cross-device
generalizability.

Langue : ANGLAIS