Effect of Using Mobile Games on Patients with Acute Stroke during Cognitive Rehabilitation at the Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Background: Using mobile games during the rehabilitation phase of patients with acute stroke will have a progressive influence on cognitive and memory impairment, which will reduce costs and enrich their prognosis. The aim of the study to evaluate the effect of using mobile games on patients with acute stroke during cognitive rehabilitation at the intensive care unit. Design: A quasi-experimental research design (pretest and posttest research designs). Setting : The study was conducted at the neurological intensive care unit at Assuit University Hospital, Egypt . Methods: Fifty patients with acute stroke were chosen randomly; they ranged in age from 18 to 60 years old, were able to write and read, and had recently been diagnosed with an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. Tools : Two tools were used, the general patient’s assessment questionnaire and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA), to assess the acute stroke patients’ cognitive abilities before and after the application of mobile games. Results: More than half of patients with acute stroke had mild cognitive impairment (58%) before application of mobile games, and the majority of them had normal cognitive ability after application of mobile games (100%). There were statistical significance differences in cognitive assessment between patients before and after the mobile game application (P value = 0.001**). Conclusion : Patients with acute stroke had better cognitive and memory functions after playing mobile games. Recommendations: Incorporating brain games into the rehabilitation protocol to improve cognitive function in patients with acute stroke at the ICU will produce significant results and shorten the length of stay.