Cognitive functions and return to work in low grade glioma

Low grade gliomas (LGG) are slow-growing malignant brain tumours. As LGGs are more commonly occurring in young people and with survival being greater than those with higher grade gliomas, preserving patient’s quality of life is imperative, in particular their ability to return to work post-treatment. However, LGG patients can struggle in their return to work and there is a lack of research regarding the challenges they can face. This study aims to understand the barriers/issues that affect LGG patients’ ability to return to work after diagnosis and/or completion of oncology treatment. Our hypothesis is that patients with LGG that do not return to work have cognitive deficits (a broad term used to explain multiple mental skills such as learning, thinking and reasoning, etc). We aim to assess if we can first screen for these deficits by validating a cognitive screening tool. This would allow patients to be referred for in-depth cognitive assessment and rehabilitation, if required. We will then explore if we can identify reoccurring combinations of cognitive deficits, particularly in executive function (essential cognitive skills for carrying out work-related tasks and include working memory, organisation and task initiation etc), in patients who do not return to work. A parallel substudy will be conducted alongside the screening tool and cognitive assessment. This will be in the form of semistructured interviews (one-to-one or focus group). We aim to explore patients 'lived experience' of returning to work after their diagnosis and/or completion of oncology treatment.