Investigating the efficacy of ApplTree on prospective memory in stroke
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the efficacy of ApplTree, a smartphone reminding application, on prospective memory performance in individuals who have experienced a stroke using Single Case Experimental Design (SCED)
IRAS ID
316792
Contact name
Jonathan Evans
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 21 days
Research summary
Research Summary
After a stroke, people can experience memory problems, including difficulty remembering to do things in the future - termed "prospective memory". This can impact their ability to carry out important activities of daily living (e.g., taking medication), independence, and quality of life. Technology-based memory aids, including smartphone applications, can compensate for memory difficulties and are recommended as a ‘practice standard’ for improving prospective memory impairment following stroke. ApplTree is a smartphone application that was designed for people with memory and attention problems. Users can enter details of future tasks and events and ApplTree then prompts them to remind them to complete these at a pre-specified time.
This study will investigate whether ApplTree helps people who have had a stroke and experience prospective memory difficulties to successfully complete prospective memory tasks. It will also explore whether they find ApplTree helpful and easy-to-use. Participants who have had a stroke and currently experience prospective memory difficulties will be randomly assigned to either a 5-, 6- or 7-week baseline phase, where they will continue to do what they normally do to remember tasks in the future. They will then complete training in the use of ApplTree and a 5-week intervention phase, where they will use ApplTree to remind them to complete prospective memory tasks. This will allow us to compare prospective memory performance with and without ApplTree to see if ApplTree makes any difference. A nominated person (e.g., a partner) will record prospective performance during baseline and intervention phases on a Memory Log. Subjective feedback from participants and their nominated person about their experiences of using ApplTree will be gathered after study completion.
Summary of Results
Throughout the baseline and intervention phases, all participants showed a high level of task completion. Variation in prospective memory performance was typically due to ‘lateness’ and ‘prompting’. Two participants showed non-significant small improvements in prospective memory performance following ApplTree, with one demonstrating significant and large reductions in self-reported effort and worry. Their nominated person showed non-significant small reductions in effort and worry also. One participant intended to continue using ApplTree after study completion. A third participant experienced issues with ApplTree, with the app not working as intended.
All participants reported using existing electronic memory aids throughout the study (e.g., Apple calendar). We anticipated that ApplTree might better meet participants’ needs due to its specific design features, including its accessible user interface. All participants reported finding ApplTree accessible, and identified useful features to support reminder setting. This study highlights the importance of considering the measures used to record memory performance, and exploring other potential effects of memory interventions, including their impact on effort and worry associated with memory performance for participants and their partners.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 01
REC reference
23/SS/0005
Date of REC Opinion
16 Feb 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion