Active not recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Cognitive Health Awareness Program in Surgical Patients

This study is for older people having surgery who want to learn more about keeping their brain healthy. We know that surgery can sometimes affect how your brain works, and we want to see if a short online course can help you understand these risks, like confusion after surgery. By learning more, we hope you can feel more prepared and make better decisions about your health. The study will look at whether this online course improves your knowledge about brain health during your surgical journey and how satisfied you are with the information. You'll complete a questionnaire before and after the course, which takes about 20 minutes in total.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University Health Network, Toronto

Enrolment target

164

Start

12 Aug 2024

Estimated completion

30 Aug 2026

Dementia Cognitive

What is this study about?

When you're getting ready for surgery, there's a lot to think about. For older adults, one important thing to consider is how surgery might affect your brain health, such as temporary confusion, often called delirium. While some things are out of our control, understanding the potential risks and how to best prepare can make a big difference for you and your family. This study wants to give you the tools and information to do just that.

We're testing a short, easy-to-use online program that teaches you about brain health, especially in the lead-up to and after surgery. The main goal is to see if this program helps you learn more about keeping your brain healthy during this time. We believe that by giving you this information, you'll feel more in control, be better prepared for your recovery, and understand potential issues like post-surgery confusion.

Taking part would mean completing a quick online course on a laptop, iPad, or even on paper at the hospital before your operation. You'll also answer some questions before and after the course to see what you've learned. We also want to know what you thought of the program – what you liked, what you didn't, and if you found it helpful.

Key takeaways

Learn about keeping your brain healthy around surgery.
Web-based program takes about 20 minutes.
For older patients having planned non-heart surgery.
Aims to help you make informed decisions.
Your feedback helps improve patient education.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be at least 60 years old and planning to have a 'non-heart' operation that you've chosen to have (not an emergency). You must be able to understand information and give your permission in English, and you should be comfortable using a computer a little bit.

However, some people won't be able to join. This includes if you've previously been diagnosed with a significant memory or thinking problem like dementia, or if you have a mental health condition that isn't currently under control. If you have serious hearing or vision problems that would make it hard to use the program, you also wouldn't be able to take part.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 60 years old or older?
Are you having a planned surgery that is not on your heart?
Can you understand and speak English well enough to give permission?
Are you comfortable using a computer or tablet a little bit?
Do you have good enough hearing and vision to use a computer or read clearly?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you'll be asked to come to one of our pre-admission clinics at either Toronto Western or Mount Sinai Hospitals between 1 and 30 days before your surgery. During this visit, a research team member will explain the study in full and ask for your written permission to join.

Once you've agreed, you'll participate in our web-based education program. This program will be given on a research laptop, iPad, or as a paper version, right there in the clinic. You'll answer some questions before the program starts and again afterward, to see what you've learned. There will also be a short survey about what you thought of the program. The whole process, including the questionnaires and the education program, should take about 20 minutes to complete. There are no further visits or follow-ups for this study, and you won't be given any medication.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could offer you the benefit of learning more about how to keep your brain healthy during your surgical journey, which might help you feel more prepared and make informed decisions. We don't expect any physical risks from participating; the main time commitment is about 20 minutes to complete the education program and questionnaires. You are completely free to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and this will not affect your medical care in any way.

Locations (2)

399 Bathurst St. Toronto Western Hospital, Preadmission Clinic, Dept. of Anesthesia
Verified postcode
Toronto, Canada
Mount Sinai Hospital
Verified postcode
Toronto, Canada

Common questions

What is 'brain health' in this study?

It means how well your brain is working, especially in terms of memory, thinking, and focus, and how surgery might affect these things.

Why is this important for surgery?

Surgery can sometimes affect how your brain works, and understanding this beforehand can help you prepare and recover better.

Do I need to be good with computers?

You just need some basic computer skills, as the program might be on a tablet or laptop. If not, a paper version is available.

How long will it take?

The entire process, including questionnaires, should take about 20 minutes during one of your pre-surgery clinic visits.

Will this affect my surgery or recovery?

No, participating in this study will not affect your surgery plans or the medical care you receive.