
Deepa Awasthi
SS.Splint-O-Tist
India
Abstract Title:Neurocognitive Functioning in Paediatric Cancer: A Scoping Review
Biography:
Dr. Deepa Awasthi is a former Occupational therapy graduate from Seth G.S.M.C & K.E.M, Mumbai, India and is currently, pursuing her Post-graduation in Occupational Therapy in Developmental Disabilities at L.T.M.M.C, Mumbai, India. She has received the Best Student Award for the Academic Year, 2015-2016 and has won the Best Scientific Paper Presentation at the Annual Conference of Association of Neonatal therapist for two consecutive years of 2020 and 2021. In March 2021, she was conferred with the Gazala Makada Award for Best Paper Presentation in Pediatrics at Virtual OTICON 2021, along with 4 Paper Publications in International Peer-reviewed Journals.
Research Interest:
Paediatric cancer not only affects physical health but also influences various aspects of neurocognitive functioning, which are pivotal for a child's overall development. This scoping review aims to provide an overview of existing research in this domain, highlighting key themes and gaps in the literature. The review systematically surveyed a wide range of sources, including peer-reviewed articles, conference proceedings to comprehensively capture the breadth of knowledge on neurocognitive functioning in paediatric cancer. By utilizing a scoping review methodology (based on the Prisma Guidelines for Scoping Reviews), a search strategy was formulated, where all search terms were transformed into a free term formulation. The study sought to map the existing evidence from their time of inception until July 2023 and elucidate potential avenues for future research and intervention. Key findings reveal that neurocognitive functions, including attention, memory, executive functioning, and processing speed, are significantly impacted in paediatric cancer survivors. The etiology of these impairments is complex and multifaceted, stemming from a combination of disease-related factors, treatment modalities (such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery), and psychosocial variables. In conclusion, the review identifies a notable gap in consistent assessment protocols and a lack of standardized tools for evaluating neurocognitive functioning in paediatric cancer patients. It underscores the critical importance of addressing neurocognitive functioning in the context of paediatric cancer and recommends further research that delve into the mechanisms underlying these impairments, long-term trajectories of cognitive functioning, and development of evidence-based interventions aimed at enhancing cognitive outcomes for this vulnerable population.