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NCT Number: NCT07331896

Strategy Training for Optimizing Attention for Individuals With Spatial Neglect

It is common for individuals after stroke to have a cognitive perceptual impairment called unilateral spatial neglect (neglect). Individuals with neglect have difficulty paying attention to one side of their body or one side of the environment and therefore experience difficulty performing daily activities. There are a lack of effective treatments for neglect and new interventions are needed to help reduce disability for these individuals. Metacognitive strategy training (strategy training) is an intervention that has the potential to reduce neglect-related disability and improve individuals' attention and awareness of their neglect. This study seeks to examine the effects of strategy training on neglect, self-awareness, and disability, specifically for individuals who are living in the community after their stroke.

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Key information

Conditions

Stroke Brain Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebrovascular Disorders Neglect, Hemispatial Nervous System Diseases Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurologic Manifestations Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Perceptual Disorders Signs and Symptoms Vascular Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15260, United States

Location status: Recruiting

About this study

Unilateral spatial neglect (neglect) post stroke is characterized by a lack of attention to one side of the body or one side of the environment. Individuals with neglect experience significant disability and are often unaware of their neglect symptoms which can make it even more difficult to treat. There are a lack of effective treatments for neglect and new interventions are needed to help reduce disability for these individuals. Metacognitive strategy training (strategy training) is an intervention that has the potential to reduce neglect-related disability and improve individuals' attention and awareness of their neglect. Strategy training teaches individuals to develop personalized goals, self-assess their performance of daily activities, and develop and evaluate strategies designed to overcome barriers and improve their performance of daily activities. While strategy training shows promise for individuals with neglect, no studies have tailored the intervention for this group of individuals or examined the effects of strategy training for individuals with neglect specifically with individuals living in the community. This study examines whether strategy training facilitates reductions in neglect and disability and improves self-awareness.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • had a stroke
  • presence of neglect as determined by score of <18 or 2 or more collisions on the Virtual Reality Lateralized Attention Test (VRLAT); score below established cutoff for neglect on one of the six subtests of the Behavioral Inattention Test (BIT); OR reported signs/symptoms of neglect
  • ≥18 years old
  • lives within 30 miles of the University of Pittsburgh in a community dwelling.

Exclusion criteria

  • Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination (BDAE) Severity Scale score of 0
  • dementia per medical record
  • active major depressive disorder per medical record
  • not willing to be videotaped
  • subject is currently receiving rehabilitation therapy as part of their usual care

Treatment and study plan

Strategy Training

Behavioral

This intervention will use an adapted form of strategy training for people with neglect.

Attention Control

Behavioral

This intervention will use a reflective listening protocol.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in attention/neglect

    Time frame: Baseline to Post-intervention (up to 60 days)

    Change in attention/neglect measured with the Catherine Bergego Scale. Total scores on the Catherine Bergego Scale therapist-rated assessment range from 0-30 (higher=greater neglect). The a priori criterion for change was a medium effect size of change (Cohen's d≥0.5)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Client Satisfaction with Strategy Training

    Time frame: Post-intervention (up to 60 days)

    Client satisfaction is measured using the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8. The a priori criterion for satisfaction was: ≥90% of participants report mean satisfaction score ≥3 on the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 items. Item scores on the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 range from 0-4. Higher scores on the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8=greater satisfaction.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Emily Grattan, PhD, OTRlL

CONTACT

[email protected]

412-648-0619

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Pittsburgh

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Examining Strategy Training for Optimizing Attention in Rehabilitation for Community-Dwelling Individuals With Spatial Neglect

Acronym: SOAR

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2029
Study completion
2029
First posted
Jan 12, 2026
Registry last updated
May 12, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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