Comparing the magnitude of change in memory function following telehealth versus in-person delivery of a group memory skills intervention for survivors of stroke

Telehealth could potentially improve memory rehabilitation access post-stroke, but its suitability is underexplored. We aimed to characterize changes in stroke survivors’ memory function and memory strategy use after completing a compensatory memory skills group intervention via telehealth, compared to in-person. Our retrospective study drew upon two previous parent studies, and examined change in memory goal attainment, everyday memory failures, and memory strategy use at program completion (T1) and follow-up (T2), relative to baseline. Non-inferiority analyses then compared change among in-person (n = 24) and telehealth (n = 30) participants. Among telehealth participants, repeated-measures ANCOVAs indicated goal attainment at T1 (p < .001, d = 1.08) and T2 (p < .001, d = 1.33), and reduced memory failures by T2 (p = .011, d = −0.58). Internal strategy use increased by T1 (p < .001, d = 0.89) and T2 (p = .003, d = 0.68), but external strategy use did not (pT1 = .079, dT1 = 0.43; pT2 = .319, dT2 = 0.25). While these findings were promising, non-inferiority analyses comparing telehealth and in-person delivery were inconclusive. Further research directly comparing delivery modalities is therefore needed. Offering participants their preferred intervention format in future trials may help further our understanding of how stroke survivors might maximally benefit from memory rehabilitation.