Project 467243

Children with disorders that impact their neurodevelopment find it more difficult to regulate their emotions and behaviour. This dysregulation arises from executive function impairments that characterize different disorders, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and a wide range of medical conditions that disrupt early brain development such as Congenital Heart Defects (CHD). Current treatment plans to improve executive functioning rely heavily on medication which have well-known limitations, undesired side-effects, and are not universally accepted. There is a need for a safer, cost-effective, and evidence-informed alternative to support cognitive rehabilitation in children. Mega Team is a novel, game-based cognitive intervention that trains multiple executive functions. It represents a promising, non-pharmacologic intervention that would be readily-available, safer for use, and more cost-effective. Its effectiveness is currently being evaluated in a prospective randomized controlled trial in children aged 6-12. In this study, I will conduct an economic evaluation that examines the effectiveness of the Mega Team treatment relative to its costs when compared to standard treatment plans. Other measures will include health-related quality of life as defined by the patients, parents, and caregivers to incorporate the unique experiences and views.This cost-effectiveness analysis would inform reimbursement decision-making as well as inform treatment decisions for a larger group of children with executive function impairments. This evidence could help clinical care teams and parents make more efficient decisions on safer, more readily available non-pharmacologic treatment options that require minimal supervision.