Cognitive Remediation Intervention to Prepare for Transition of Care

February 25, 2026 updated by: Donna Murdaugh, University of Alabama at Birmingham

The Cognitive-Remediation of Executive and Adaptive Deficits in Youth (C-READY) Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial for Adolescents With Sickle Cell Disease to Prepare for Transition of Care

Randomized Controlled Trial (RTC) testing the efficacy of a telehealth adaptation of the Cognitive-Remediation of Executive and Adaptive Deficits in Youth (C-READY) intervention to prepare adolescents with sickle cell disease for transition of care.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Cognitive impairment is a pervasive debilitating feature of sickle cell disease (SCD), with over 50% of children demonstrating early neurodevelopmental delays, ultimately influencing ability for adolescents with SCD to engage in effective decision-making needed for successful transition into adulthood. The negative effect of cognitive impairment on transition to adult self-care is further compounded by health-related disparities and poor social determinants of health. Transition to self-care among youth with SCD may be facilitated by cognitive remediation. One potential avenue to disseminate cognitive-based interventions to disadvantaged neighborhoods is through telehealth administration. This study will examine the efficacy of C-READY on adaptive and self-management skills in youth with SCD, where there is a critical need to enhance self-efficacy/self-care skills for successful transition into adulthood. Additionally, this study overcomes the barriers of transportation that preclude vulnerable patient populations from returning to the clinic for in-person interventions by offering the intervention in their homes via telehealth. C-READY is a manualized, individualized intervention delivered over the course of 4 weeks in 8, 60 minute one-on-one telehealth sessions between the youth and trained therapist. Caregiver involvement and accountability is promoted by weekly phone sessions in between the 8 primary sessions. The emphasis C-READY is on promotion of independence with adaptive skills necessary for transition of care to adult healthcare, such as managing medications, pain management, sleep hygiene, and/or daily health-related routines; the objective is to identify and focus on goals that best promote those skills. Thus, we will conduct a two-arm, wait-listed randomized control trial among 120 patients with SCD (ages 10-18 years), 60 participants per group; half randomized to the intervention arm, and half to the waitlist arm. The primary outcome is transition readiness skills, with secondary outcome measures of cognitive abilities and neuroimaging metrics. We hypothesize that youth with SCD who participate in C-READY will show improvement in transition readiness skills and show greater improvement in cognitive performance. We also hypothesize that participation in C-READY will improve functional brain connectivity and increase compensatory neural mechanisms. In sum, this study will be the first step in developing highly accessible and scalable evidence-based intervention to improve transition of care, enhance self-care, and ultimately improve overall quality of life in youth with SCD.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
120

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Alabama
      • Birmingham, Alabama, United States, 35233
        • Recruiting
        • University of Alabama at Birmingham
        • Contact:
          • Murdaugh
          • Phone Number: 2056382135

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

10 years to 18 years (Child, Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of SCD (all genotypes)
  • Active follow-up at Children's of Alabama Hospital
  • Ages 10-18
  • English-speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of seizures or overt stroke
  • History of Intellectual Disability or Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Inability to participate in the MRI scan, such as metal implants, neurostimulators, claustrophobia
  • Currently on psychotropic medications

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: C-READY (Cognitive-Remediation of Executive and Adaptive Deficits in Youth)
Self-management and goal-setting cognitive remediation
Behavioral: CREADY (Cognitive-Remediation of Executive and Adaptive Deficits in Youth)
Manualized cognitive remediation intervention that includes 1) skills-based remediation (metacognitive training), 2) parent training, and 3) cognitive behavioral approaches. Intervention targets self-management and goal-setting skill building to promote independence in activities necessary for transition of care.
Other: Wait-List Control Group
Will receive the same C-READY intervention after a 4-week wait period
Behavioral: CREADY (Cognitive-Remediation of Executive and Adaptive Deficits in Youth)
Manualized cognitive remediation intervention that includes 1) skills-based remediation (metacognitive training), 2) parent training, and 3) cognitive behavioral approaches. Intervention targets self-management and goal-setting skill building to promote independence in activities necessary for transition of care.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Transition Readiness
Time Frame: 4-weeks
Questionnaire assessing how knowledgeable the youth is about their health condition and the skills necessary for self-management and self-advocacy
4-weeks
Transition Readiness
Time Frame: 4-months post-intervention
Questionnaire assessing how knowledgeable the youth is about their health condition and the skills necessary for self-management and self-advocacy
4-months post-intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Cognitive Assessment
Time Frame: 4-weeks
A global cognitive deficit score will be calculated that assesses intellectual functioning, working memory, processing speed, attention, language, and executive functioning. The global cognitive deficit score is calculated as an average of test scores and normalized to a scale of 0-5, with 0 indicating normal functioning and 5 indicating severe deficits.
4-weeks
Cognitive Assessment
Time Frame: 4-months post-intervention
A global cognitive deficit score will be calculated that assesses intellectual functioning, working memory, processing speed, attention, language, and executive functioning. The global cognitive deficit score is calculated as an average of test scores and normalized to a scale of 0-5, with 0 indicating normal functioning and 5 indicating severe deficits.
4-months post-intervention
Neuroimaging
Time Frame: 4-weeks
Brain scan (MRI) of structural and functional connectivity
4-weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 1, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 13, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 13, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 20, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
February 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 25, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 300003655

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Sharing of the data generated by this project is an essential part of our proposed activities and will be carried out in several different ways. We will also make our results available to other scientists interested in understanding cognitive outcomes in youth with sickle cell disease, and to avoid unintentional duplication of research. We also hope that the results of this study will lead to future collaboration to further develop approaches to improve transition of care outcomes in adolescents and youth adults with sickle cell disease. Our plan includes presentation at national and international meetings and publications in peer-reviewed medical journals. All publications of these data will contain a statement of data sharing so that other researchers will know of its availability.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings