Investigation relationship between cognitive functions and occupational performance of children with brain tumors

This study was planned to investigate the relationship between cognitive and executive functions with occupational performance and satisfaction levels of children with brain tumor. 102 children with brain tumor; 90 healthy children between 6-12 years were participated. Dynamic Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (DOTCA-Ch) was used to assess cognitive functions of participants, Childhood Executive Functioning Inventory for Parents and Teachers (CHEXI) was used to assess executive functions of participants. Canadian Occupational Performance Measurement (COPM) was used to assess occupational performance and satisfaction of participants. The difference between cognitive and executive functions with activity performance and satisfaction levels of children with brain tumors and healthy children was analyzed with Mann Whitney U Test. Cognitive and executive functions, activity performance and satisfaction levels of healthy children were found to be higher than those of children with brain tumors (p <0,05). Spearman Correlation Test was used to investigate the relationship between cognitive functions with occupational performance and satisfaction of children with brain tumors. All of the cognitive functions of children with brain tumors were found to be statistically related to occupational performance and satisfaction levels of children (p<0,05). According to the results of this study, cognitive and executive functions of children with brain tumors affect the performance and satisfaction levels of children in daily living activities. It is thought that client centered, activity oriented cognitive occupational therapy interventions designed according to occupational therapy theory and models can improve the occupational performances of children with brain tumors and increase their satisfaction about own performances.