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Deepa Awasthi

 

Deepa Awasthi

Founder And Consultant OT, SS.Splint O Tist,
India

Abstract Title: Neurocognitive Functioning in Paediatric Cancer: A Scoping Review

Biography:

Dr. Deepa Awasthi is a Founder and Consultant OT at SS Splint-O-Tist, a Custom Splinting Consultancy in India. In 2023, she secured University Rank-1 position at her Postgraduation Examination in Developmental Disabilities. Her Scientific achievements include winning the Best Scientific Paper Presentation at the Annual Conference of Association of Neonatal therapist for two consecutive years of 2020 and 2021 as well as the Award for Best Paper Presentation in Pediatrics at Virtual OTICON 2021. She has consecutively served as a Speaker and Moderator at the 3rd and 4th Euro- Global Conference on Pediatrics & Neonatology along with the Pediatrics Conference 2022, held in Paris.

Research Interest:

Neurocognitive Functioning in Paediatric Cancer: A Scoping Review

Pediatric cancer not only affects physical health but also influences various aspects of neurocognitive functioning, which are pivotal for a child’s overall development. This scoping review aims to provide an overview of existing research in this domain, highlighting key themes and gaps in the literature.

The review systematically surveyed a wide range of sources, including peer-reviewed articles, conference proceedings to comprehensively capture the breadth of knowledge on neurocognitive functioning in paediatric cancer. By utilizing a scoping review methodology (based on the Prisma Guidelines for Scoping Reviews), a search strategy was formulated, where all search terms were transformed into a free term formulation. The study sought to map the existing evidence from their time of inception until July 2023 and elucidate potential avenues for future research and intervention.

Key findings reveal that neurocognitive functions, including attention, memory, executive functioning, and processing speed, are significantly impacted in paediatric cancer survivors. The etiology of these impairments is complex and multifaceted, stemming from a combination of disease-related factors, treatment modalities (such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery), and psychosocial variables.

In conclusion, the review identifies a notable gap in consistent assessment protocols and a lack of standardized tools for evaluating neurocognitive functioning in paediatric cancer patients. It underscores the critical importance of addressing neurocognitive functioning in the context of paediatric cancer and recommends further research that delve into the mechanisms underlying these impairments, long-term trajectories of cognitive functioning, and development of evidence-based interventions aimed at enhancing cognitive outcomes for this vulnerable population.