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Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 11

Duration: 7 weeks

HOBSCOTCH Program for Epilepsy

Overseen BySuzanne B Lenz, MA, CCRC

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Disqualifiers: Dementia, Severe mental disability, others

No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if a virtual version of a cognitive self-management program called HOBSCOTCH can help people with epilepsy manage memory issues and improve daily life. Participants will receive sessions via webcam and phone to assess the effectiveness of this remote approach. It is ideal for individuals with epilepsy who have noticed memory problems and have internet and phone access, without recent medication changes.

As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore innovative solutions for managing epilepsy-related memory challenges.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you must not have changed your antiepileptic or antidepressant medications in the past month.

What prior data suggests that the HOBSCOTCH program is safe for epilepsy patients?

Research has shown that the HOBSCOTCH program safely and effectively helps adults with epilepsy manage memory and attention issues. This evidence-based program has been studied and proven to work. No serious side effects or safety concerns have been reported. HOBSCOTCH employs education and self-monitoring to aid in better epilepsy management. Conducted through webcam or phone sessions, it avoids the typical risks associated with medication. Overall, HOBSCOTCH is considered safe for participants.¹ ² ³ ⁴ ⁵

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

The HOBSCOTCH program is unique because it offers a home-based, virtual approach to managing epilepsy, focusing on cognitive training and self-management skills. Unlike traditional treatments that often rely heavily on medication to control seizures, HOBSCOTCH empowers participants to actively engage in their care through a series of one-on-one sessions, both via webcam and telephone. This method is exciting to researchers because it may enhance patients' quality of life by improving cognitive function and providing personalized support without the need for frequent in-person visits.

What evidence suggests that the HOBSCOTCH program is effective for epilepsy?

Studies have shown that the HOBSCOTCH program can help people with epilepsy who experience memory and attention problems. This self-management program uses learning, tracking, and problem-solving to improve cognitive issues. Research indicates it can enhance quality of life and mood, as well as boost memory. The program is evidence-based, having been tested and proven effective in real-life situations. In this trial, participants will receive the HOBSCOTCH-V intervention, which may effectively address memory or attention concerns associated with epilepsy.¹ ² ³ ⁶ ⁷

Who Is on the Research Team?

Barbara Jobst, MD

Principal Investigator

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and Dartmouth College

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 18 with epilepsy who can read and have access to a phone and the internet. They should be on a stable medication regimen for at least one month, although brief stops for specific tests are okay. Participants must also have memory concerns but cannot have dementia, severe mental disability, significant visual impairments, or lack reliable communication tools.

Inclusion Criteria

You need to have access to the internet.

I have access to a telephone.

Literate

See 3 more

Exclusion Criteria

No reliable telephone or internet access

Severe mental disability or estimated IQ less than 70 per clinical judgement

Subjects self-reporting a dementing illness or a mention of a dementing illness in their medical record

See 2 more

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Pre-HOBSCOTCH Session

Participants receive a pre-HOBSCOTCH session via webcam to prepare for the intervention

1 week

1 visit (virtual)

Educational Session

Participants receive an educational session via webcam

1 week

1 visit (virtual)

Treatment

Participants receive the HOBSCOTCH intervention consisting of 6 telephone sessions and 1 wrap-up session

7 weeks

6 visits (telephone), 1 visit (virtual or telephone)

Booster Sessions

Participants receive 3 booster sessions via webcam or telephone, once per month

3 months

3 visits (virtual or telephone)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in self-management practices, healthcare utilization, depression, medication adherence, seizure frequency, health confidence, overall well-being, quality of life, and cognitive function

12 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

Home Based Self-management and Cognitive Training Changes lives (HOBSCOTCH)

Trial Overview The HOBSCOTCH Phase III trial is testing an entirely virtual cognitive self-management program designed to help people with epilepsy manage their condition from home using e-health tools like telephone and computer.

How Is the Trial Designed?

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: HOBSCOTCH-V (virtual)Experimental Treatment1 Intervention

Participants will receive the HOBSCOTCH intervention consisting of 1:1 sessions delivered once per week, including: * 1 pre-HOBSCOTCH Session (on webcam) * 1 educational session (on webcam) * 6 telephone sessions * 1 wrap-up session (webcam or telephone) Participants will also receive 3 booster sessions, via webcam or telephone, once per month.

Group II: ControlExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Participants will be wait listed and will receive HOBSCOTCH-V (above) following a 6 month wait period.

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

548

Recruited

2,545,000+

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Collaborator

Trials

902

Recruited

25,020,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The SMART self-management program significantly reduced negative health events (NHEs) in adults with epilepsy, showing an odds ratio of 3.2 compared to a wait-list group, based on a 6-month randomized controlled trial with 120 participants.

Improvements in self-management, quality of life, and reductions in depression symptoms were found to mediate about 20-30% of the program's effectiveness in reducing NHEs, highlighting the importance of addressing mental health and quality of life in epilepsy care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of a remotely delivered group-format epilepsy self-management program on adverse health outcomes in vulnerable people with epilepsy: A causal mediation analysis.Briggs, FBS., Wilson, BK., Pyatka, N., et al.[2021]

The SMART intervention significantly reduced the number of negative health events (NHEs) in adults with epilepsy over a 6-month period compared to a waitlist control group, indicating its efficacy in managing health complications related to epilepsy.

Participants in the SMART program also experienced improvements in mood, quality of life, and overall health functioning, as measured by various scales, although there was no change in seizure severity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A 6-month prospective randomized controlled trial of remotely delivered group format epilepsy self-management versus waitlist control for high-risk people with epilepsy.Sajatovic, M., Colon-Zimmermann, K., Kahriman, M., et al.[2019]

Citations

1.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9169940/

Effectiveness of a Self-Management Program to Improve ...HOBSCOTCH addresses cognitive impairment in adults with epilepsy through the use of (1) patient education, (2) self-monitoring training, (3) problem-solving ...

2.aesnet.orgaesnet.org/clinical-care/epilepsy-self-management/self-management-programs/hobscotch

HOBSCOTCH (Home Based Self-Management and Cognitive ...HOBSCOTCH is an evidence-based self-management program designed to address memory and attention problems in adults with epilepsy.

3.clinicaltrials.govclinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04519775

Study Details | NCT04519775 | HOBSCOTCH Phase IIIThe purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of an entirely virtual version of the home-based cognitive self-management program "HOBSCOTCH.

4.sciencedirect.comsciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S152550501600038X

A cognitive behavioral intervention (HOBSCOTCH) ...A self-management intervention targeting cognitive dysfunction was developed and assessed for whether it improves quality of life, objective memory, and mood in ...

5.frontiersin.orgfrontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1617539/full

Real world telehealth delivery of an evidence based self ...CHanges lives (HOBSCOTCH) is an evidence-based self-management program designed for people with epilepsy and comorbid subjective cognitive dysfunction.

6.clinicaltrials.govclinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06145737

HOme-Based Self-management and COgnitive Training ...The goal of this pilot study is to assess the feasibility of adapting and delivering the existing home-based epilepsy self-management intervention, HOBSCOTCH, ...

7.epilepsyallianceamerica.orgepilepsyallianceamerica.org/programs-services/managing-epilepsy-well-network-mew/hobscotch/

HOBSCOTCHHOBSCOTCH was developed to help individuals with epilepsy adapt and work through various difficulties, including thinking or memory problems.

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