Improving Refugee Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Impact of Cognitive Activity Training

Abstract

Backround: Refugee children’s cognitive skills are negatively impacted by war and displacement, reducing school performance. Addressing these challenges requires developmentally appropriate and function-oriented approaches that align with occupational therapy’s focus on participation and skill-building. It was aimed to examine the effects of Cognitive Activity Training (CAT) on cognitive skills, academic performance and quality of life in refugees. Methods: The study was designed as a randomized controlled study, including pre and post testing. A total of 34 refugee children in study group (14.29 ± 0.84years) and control group (14.41 ± 0.61years) were included. Children in the study group received the CAT program (10 weeks, 2 sessions per week), based on occupational therapy principles and implemented as part of a cognitive rehabilitation approach. Children in the control group received no intervention. Refugee children were assessed before and after the intervention using the Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (LOTCA), Reading Speed Test (RST), Minnesota Handwriting Test (MHT), and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). Results: It was found that the school-based CAT given to the refugee children had a statistically significant effect on all cognitive skill parameters, reading speed and handwriting skills reflecting academic performance, and quality of life (p