OUTC-01. ESTABLISHING THE PSYCHOMETRIC VALIDITY OF ATTENTIONAL MEASURES APPLIED TO THE PAEDIATRIC NEURO-ONCOLOGY POPULATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

BACKGROUND: Associated with hydrocephalus, cranial irradiation, and certain chemotherapeutic agents, impairment in attention is a common feature of childhood brain tumour survivorship. Attentional processes are implicated in a number of cognitive functions, supporting sustained and selective attention, inhibition of competing stimuli, and management of divided attention (multi-tasking). Acquired attentional deficit reported in childhood survivors of brain tumour is correlated with reduced academic attainment, slowed intellectual development, poor peer relationships, and lower overall quality of life. Accurate identification of tumour-related attentional impairment is a prerequisite to access appropriate rehabilitative intervention. Despite this, no attentional measures have been adequately normed on the paediatric brain tumour population. As such, there exists little agreement as to which measure is most suitable for current research or clinical practice. AIM: This prospective study will assess the utility of common measures of childhood attention used in the paediatric Neuro-Oncology population. METHOD: Comprehensive database searches will be conducted to identify relevant articles that address the validity, reliability, and capability of attentional measures currently used within paediatric Neuro-Oncology populations. The psychometric properties and clinical utility of each measure will be reviewed using a purpose-developed evaluative tool. The strengths and limitations of particular measures when applied to this clinical population will be discussed. Recommendations for the utility for and against measures in future research or clinical application will be provided. FINDINGS: Analyses of these data continues with an aim to present initial findings by May 2023.