HOBSCOTCH: Home Based Self-management and Cognitive Training Changes Lives
Every person experiences memory lapses at some point in their life. We have all had moments where we have forgotten someone's name or telephone number, forgotten to take our medication, or forgotten something that was told to us in conversation. Some memory problems can be part of the normal experience of being a human. However, approximately half of persons with seizures report more than average memory difficulties.
What is HOBSCOTCH?
HOBSCOTCH is a program developed at Dartmouth, specifically for adults with epilepsy. HOBSCOTCH can improve memory performance and quality of life in adults with epilepsy who have memory problem.
How does HOBSCOTCH work?
The program is simple, cost effective and requires only a few visits to your doctor’s office.
HOBSCOTCH consists of 2 visits in person at the beginning and the end of the program, and 6 weekly telephone sessions, with each session lasting 45-60 minutes.
HOBSCOTCH is also being tested for delivery over the Internet.
In each personal and telephone visit, participants learn memory skills and strategies, then practice these skills and apply problem-solving techniques in everyday, real-life situations between visits.
HOBSCOTCH teaches patients:
- The ABC's of memory, normal memory problem and how seizures can affect cognition.
- Self-awareness of what affects individual memory and attention.
- Strategies to compensate for memory and cognition issues.
- Problem solving skills that can be applied in real-life situations.
Karen Secore, MS, APRN, CNRN
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Epilepsy Center
One Medical Center Drive
Lebanon, NH 03756
Publications about HOBSCOTCH
Caller TA, Secore KL, Ferguson RJ, Roth RM, Alexandre FP,
Henegan PL, Harrington JJ, & Jobst JC. Design and feasibility
of a memory intervention with focus on self-management for cognitive
impairment in epilepsy. Epilepsy & Behavior 44
View PubMed Abstract
Caller TA, Secore KL, Ferguson RJ, Roth RM, Secore KL, Alexandre FP, Zhao W, Tosteson T,Henegan PL, Birney K & Jobst JC.(in press). A cognitive-behavioral intervention (HOBSCOTCH) improves quality of life and attention in epilepsy: a pilot study. Epilepsy & Behavior