Recruiting

HOBSCOTCH

Sponsor:

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Code:

NCT07735715

Conditions

Epilepsy

Cognitive Dysfunction, Cognitive Disorder

Memory and Thinking Problems

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 13 - 29

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

HOBSCOTCH/HOBSCOTCH-YOUTH

Study Details

Brief summary:

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn more about the home-based epilepsy self-management program, HOBSCOTCH, for improving cognitive function (thinking and memory) and quality of life specifically in young adults, ages 18 - 29 years, who have epilepsy. It will also learn if a modification of the program for youth with epilepsy, ages 13 - 17, improves thinking and memory and quality of life and reduces stress for their parents.

Researchers will enroll 260 young adults with epilepsy and 40 youth with epilepsy and their parent or guardian. Researchers will compare responses to questionnaires and surveys before and after participation in the HOBSCOTCH program to see if thinking, memory and quality of life have improved for young adults and youth with epilepsy and to see if parents have improved quality of life as well.

Participants will:

  • Attend 9 weekly one-hour sessions of the HOBSCOTH program in their homes with a one-on-one coach using their computer or their phone; youth with epilepsy (ages 13 - 17) will attend alongside a parent or legal guardian.
  • Keep a short daily diary about their seizures and activity in the program using a smart phone app(lication)
  • Complete surveys and questionnaires before HOBSCOTCH and 3 months and 6 months later.

There are no study visits to a medical center. HOBSCOTCH is a virtual or telehealth intervention.

Conditions

Epilepsy

Cognitive Dysfunction, Cognitive Disorder

Memory and Thinking Problems

Study ID

NCT07735715

Start date

Sep 1, 2026

Status verified date

Jul, 2026

Completion date

Jul 31, 2029

Anticipated

Primary completion date

May 1, 2029

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 13 - 29

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Inclusion Criteria for Young Adults with Epilepsy (YAWE) and Youth with Epilepsy (YWE):

  • Age 18 - 29 years for YAWE
  • Age 13 - 17 years for YWE
  • For YWE at least one parent or legal guardian provides consent and agrees to participate
  • Diagnosis of epilepsy (controlled or uncontrolled seizures)
  • Subjective cognitive complaints (memory, attention, learning, problem solving, executive function, planning)
  • Literate and proficient in English
  • Telephone access
  • Internet Access.

Inclusion Criteria for Parent of Youth with Epilepsy (YWE):

  • Parent or legal guardian of a youth with epilepsy (age 13 - 17 years)
  • Literate and proficient in English
  • Telephone access
  • Internet Access

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Active psychosis (any participant)
  • Illicit substance abuse (any participant)
  • Severe cognitive/intellectual disability (any participant)
  • YWE cannot participate without a parent and parent's consent (or legal guardian)
  • YWE cannot participate without assent even if a parent or legal guardian gives consent

Study Design

Enrollment

300 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Health Services Research

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

other: HOBSCOTCH-YOUTH and Young Adults Intervention

Participants will receive the HOBSCOTCH (ages 18-29) or HOBSCOTCH-YOUTH (ages 13 -17) program consisting of 1:1 sessions delivered once per week including:

  • 1 pre-HOBSCOTCH Session (on webcam or by phone);
  • 1 educational session (on webcam);
  • 6 HOBSCOTCH intervention sessions (webcam or by phone);
  • 1 wrap-up and maintenance planning session.

Interventions

HOBSCOTCH/HOBSCOTCH-YOUTH

HOBSCOTCH (HOme Based Self-Management and COgnitive Training CHanges Lives) is a home-based self-management program to treat cognitive symptoms and improve quality of life, while minimizing the barriers of access to care, for people with epilepsy and other neurological disorders. The program is based on Problem Solving Therapy (PST) and teaches problem solving strategies and compensatory mechanisms to help manage cognitive dysfunction and enhance quality of life. HOBSCOTCH-YOUTH is an adaptation of the HOBSCOTCH program for youth ages 13 - 17 who have epilepsy.

Primary outcome measure

  • Change in quality of life as measured by comparing QOLIE-31 scores at baseline to 3 months and 6 months post HOBSCOTCH intervention in young adults with epilepsy (YAWE) [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months post HOBSCOTCH intervention ]
  • Change in subjective cognition as measured by comparing NeuroQOL - Cognitive Function sub-scale scores at baseline to 3 months and 6 months post HOBSCOTCH intervention in young adults with epilepsy (YAWE) [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months post HOBSCOTCH intervention ]
  • Change in quality of life as measured by comparing QOLIE-AD-48 scores at baseline to 3 months and 6 months post- HOBSCOTCH-YOUTH intervention in youth with epilepsy (YWE) [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months post HOBSCOTCH-YOUTH intervention ]
  • Change in caregiver burden for parent/legal guardian of youth with epilepsy as measured by comparing Zarit Burden Interview scores at baseline to 3 months and 6 months post-HOBSCOTH-YOUTH intervention by their child [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months post-HOBSCOTCH-YOUTH intervention ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Wren M Kaden, BA

603-650-4225wren.m.kaden@hitchcock.org

Trina K Dawson, BA

603-650-4225trina.k.dawson@hitchcock.org

Locations

Dartmouth-Hitchcock

Recruiting

Lebanon, New Hampshire, United States, 03756

Contacts

Elaine T Kiriakopoulos, MD, MPH, MSc - Principal Investigator, MD, MPH, MS

603-650-4225elaine.t.kiriakopoulos@dartmouth.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Last update posted

Nov 2, 2026

Last verified

Jul, 2026

Keywords

  • Epilepsy
  • Seizures
  • Cognitive Dysfunction, Cognitive Disorder
  • Memory and thinking problems
  • Epilepsy Self-Management

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-11-03. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center on 2026-11-02. Recruitment status is synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the sponsor's current status. Confirm during your call.