Mobile apps for restorative cognitive rehabilitation of acquired brain injury: registered scoping review

An acquired brain injury (ABI) can result in various cognitive impairments which significantly affect the quality of life of ABI survivors. Access to evidence-based effective rehabilitation is essential to aid recovery. The current COVID-19 pandemic, however, has limited the access to face-to-face rehabilitation services. One of the potential solutions is to deliver cognitive rehabilitation remotely through mobile apps (i.e., software intended to be used on a mobile device, such as a smartphone or a tablet). However, little is known about how apps can help ABI survivors to restore cognitive function. This scoping review aims to: examine the methods used in previous research testing apps for restorative cognitive rehabilitation in ABI; summarize the available research concerning the use of apps for restorative cognitive rehabilitation in ABI; and, identify knowledge gaps regarding the research on the use of apps to restoratively rehabilitate cognition in ABI. Using PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR), we will consider studies that investigate the use of apps in ABI restorative rehabilitation of cognition focusing on vision, perception, attention, processing speed, memory, language, number processing and executive function, but excluding motor control and mood/emotional processing. We will include both qualitative and quantitative studies published in peer-reviewed journals. Two reviewers will independently screen the titles, abstracts, and full-text papers to decide final inclusion. Any discrepancies will be discussed with a third reviewer.