The Effect of Cognitive Rehabilitation on the Working Memory of Women with Breast Cancer under Chemotherapy

Cancer disease requires additional treatments such as chemotherapy. Chemotherapy has many effects on executive functions. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cognitive rehabilitation on the working memory of women with breast cancer under chemotherapy. This is a semi-experimental study with control group, pre-test, post-test and random appointment to the experimental and control group. The statistical population of the study consisted of women with breast cancer under the chemotherapy in Tehran. Among them, 30 samples were targeted and among those with breast cancer who were referred to hospitals of Shahdai Tajrish and Imam Khomeini hospitals in Tehran were chosen. Cognitive rehabilitation was performed using "Attentive Rehabilitation of Attention and Memory" software and N-Back Test was used to collect data. Validity and reliability of this instrument were reviewed and approved in previous studies. Data were analyzed using SPSS. 23. The correct component score of the active memory variable of the experimental group in the post-test (20.00 ± 2.92) was increased compared to the pre-test (15.85 ± 1.47) and the component of the total time in the post-test (99.31 ± 32.92) compared to the pre-test (161.93 ± 47.00). Also, the significant improvement in the correct response component (F = 307.6, P < 0.05) and total time (F = 90.49, P < 0.05) were the active memory of the women in the experimental group compared to the control group. Using cognitive rehabilitation program reduces the working memory of women with breast cancer under chemotherapy. Therefore, health professionals can use low cost and useful therapies such as cognitive rehabilitation to reduce the problems associated with chemotherapy