Musical Training Programme to Improve Neurocognitive Functioning of Children Surviving Brain Tumours

Brain tumour is the second most common childhood cancer in Hong Kong. Evidence shows that cancer and its treatments have long-term and lasting adverse effects on the neurocognitive functioning of paediatric brain tumour survivors, including the impairment of intellectual development and deficits in attention, working memory, processing speed and executive functions. There has been an increase in the use of musical training to promote the neuro-rehabilitation of patients suffering from stroke and Parkinson's disease, and to improve reading skills and academic achievement in young poor readers, and to enhance children's cognitive development. We conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) from 2017 to 2018 to examine the effectiveness of musical training on psychological outcomes and quality of life in Chinese paediatric brain tumour survivors. The results showed that participants who received a weekly 45-min lesson on musical training for 52 weeks (intervention group) reported statistically significant fewer depressive symptoms, higher levels of self-esteem, and better quality of life than those who received placebo intervention (control group) at 12-month demonstrating the effectiveness of musical training intervention. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether musical training can also be used to improve neurocognitive functioning, in particular the attention, processing speed, and executive functions of children surviving brain tumours.

The overall aim of this proposed study will be to assess the feasibility of a musical training program in improving the neurocognitive functioning of children surviving brain tumours. The objectives of this feasibility study are as follows:

• To ascertain the feasibility of recruitment and data collection in the outpatient clinic of the Hong Kong Children's Hospital;
• To assess the response and retention rates of the study;
• To examine the content of the proposed musical training program for its appropriateness, comprehensiveness and duration to the target participants;
• To evaluate the appropriateness and feasibility of using various assessment tools in measuring the intelligence, attention, processing speed and executive functions of the paediatric brain tumour survivors; and
• To assess any changes in neurocognitive functioning of children surviving brain tumours after receiving musical training for 52 weeks.

Inclusion criteria

• children who have completed cancer treatment at least 2 months previously;
• aged between 7 and 16 years,
• able to speak Cantonese and read Chinese, and
• those who have not undertaken any musical training following their cancer diagnosis.

Exclusion criteria

• those survivors with evidence of cancer recurrence or second malignancy in their medical records