OT SMILE: Occupational Therapy Group Intervention for Primary Brain Tumour Patients

Summary

People diagnosed with primary brain tumours often experience significant symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive changes, anxiety, and reduced ability to carry out everyday activities. These symptoms may be related to the tumour itself or to ongoing systemic anti-cancer treatment. In Ireland, access to structured rehabilitation and symptom management programmes for this population is limited. The OT SMILE study is evaluating whether a structured occupational therapy-led group programme can improve quality of life and daily functioning in adults with primary brain tumours receiving active treatment. Participants attending Beaumont Hospital who meet eligibility criteria and provide informed consent will be randomly assigned (like flipping a coin) to one of two groups: A six-week occupational therapy group programme (OT SMILE), or Usual care, consisting of written lifestyle management information. The OT SMILE programme consists of six weekly 90-minute group sessions delivered by occupational therapists. Sessions focus on fatigue management, activity modification, cognitive strategies, relaxation techniques, goal setting, exercise, nutrition, and peer support. Participants in both groups will complete questionnaires before the programme begins and again after six weeks. These questionnaires measure quality of life, fatigue, and daily functioning. The main goal of the study is to determine whether the occupational therapy group programme improves health-related quality of life compared to usual care. The results may help inform supportive care services for people living with primary brain tumours.

Interventions

• Standard Lifestyle Management Literature · OTHER

  Provision of written educational materials addressing symptom management, fatigue, activity pacing, and lifestyle strategies. Participants continue routine oncology care without structured occupational therapy group sessions.

• OT SMILE Occupational Therapy Group Programme · BEHAVIORAL

  A structured six-week group-based occupational therapy programme delivered by registered occupational therapists. Sessions include fatigue management strategies, goal setting, activity pacing, cognitive strategies, relaxation techniques, exercise guidance, nutrition education, peer support, and strategies to support long-term self-management. Each session lasts approximately 90 minutes and is delivered weekly.

Published eligibility criteria

Verbatim from the registry. Only the site can decide how these apply to a specific patient.

Inclusion Criteria:

Age ≥ 18 years Diagnosis of primary brain tumour Currently receiving systemic anti-cancer treatment (SACT) Experiencing difficulty with occupational performance (self-reported or clinician-identified) Sufficient cognitive and communication ability to participate in group sessions (assessed clinically and/or via screening tool) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤ 2 Able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

ECOG performance status ≥ 3 Current inpatient status Major depressive episode or significant psychiatric condition preventing participation in group sessions Significant language barrier preventing participation in English-language sessions

Inability to provide informed consent

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Sites (1)

• Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre, Dublin, Beaumont, Ireland · RECRUITING