A Modified Test of Goal-directed Behaviour: a Feasibility Study

NCT07484048 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 25/001/GHT358626
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

Cognitive assessment plays an important part in decision making in acute neurological settings, partly because difficulties with cognitive skills such as attention, memory and executive functioning (which includes planning and problem-solving) have direct implications for patents' levels of independence and safety upon discharge. A bedside cognitive task that could shed light upon a patient's ability to demonstrate effective goal-directed behaviour (potentially along with other aspects of executive functioning such as cognitive flexibility) would be a useful addition to the existing repertoire of bedside cognitive assessments. One such test could be 'Link's Cube'. The Link's Cube Test is impractical for bedside use in an acute ward setting, as it comprises 27 small blocks. The feasibility study aims to preserve the information that is provided by Link's Cube Test (i.e. an indication of the patient's ability to engage in goal-directed behaviour) whilst altering the testing material such that only nine, slightly larger blocks are used. The objectives for the feasibility study are:

• To identify any practical difficulties in administration of the tests that may not be apparent without trialling them
• To generate information regarding the timing and sequence of overall administration and in particular the proposed modified Link's Cube test
• To obtain feedback from neuropsychologists about ease of administration of the proposed new test and to obtain their views regarding potential benefits

Conditions

Cognitive Impairment; Coginitive Assessment

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Procedural obstacles of the modified Link's Cube test.

  Assessed using the Link's Cube Scoring Matrix (total score between 0-30)

  Day 1

Study Arms (2)

Neuropsychologists

OTHER

Clinical psychologists in Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS FT

Other: Five cognitive tasks

Non-neuropsychologists

OTHER

General population, non-neuropsychologists

Other: Five cognitive tasks

Interventions

Five cognitive tasks OTHER

The five tests are: * Link's Cube: participants are asked to construct a large cube from 27 smaller cubes such that the outer surface is all the same colour * Modified Links' Cube: participants are asked to construct a large cube from 9 smaller blocks such that the outer surface is all the same colour, and then amend their response according to 2 further instructions * D-KEFS Tower Test - participants are asked to move discs of varying sizes across three pegs to build a target tower in as few moves as possible * Weigl test - participants are asked to sort blocks into one group according to shape/colour and then shift mental set by sorting them according to the second characteristic * Brixton Spatial Anticipation test - participants are asked to detect rules and rule changes when presented a targets that changes location

Neuropsychologists; Non-neuropsychologists

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• General population. For convenience at this feasibility study stage this will be largely comprised of colleagues working with GHT, above the age of 18, with no upper age limit.
• Have given informed consent having followed the procedure in the protocol
• Have the physical/sensory abilities to undertake the test procedures (e.g. use of both hands, adequate vision)
• Sufficient English language to be able to follow test instructions

You may not qualify if:

• Under the age of 18
• Refusal/inability to give informed consent
• Insufficient English language to be able to follow test instructions
• Using cognitive testing as part of their clinical work, or ongoing familiarity with cognitive tests.
• Working directly with the main investigator.
• Presence of a self-reported cognitive difficulty/neurological condition - not because that in itself would be problematic for test administration or for the information generated, but rather to avoid potential distress to participants were they to find the tests administered challenging.
• Presence of any physical/sensory/cognitive difficulty that would confound administration of the tasks, e.g. being partially sighted or having use of only one upper limb
• clinical psychologists in GHT who have or have had a role that involves the administration of cognitive tests
• Have given informed consent having followed the procedure in the protocol
• Have the physical/sensory abilities to undertake the test procedures (e.g. use of both hands, adequate vision)
• Sufficient English language to be able to follow test instructions
• Under the age of 18
• Refusal/inability to give informed consent
• Insufficient English language to be able to follow test instructions
• Presence of a self-reported cognitive difficulty/neurological condition - not because that in itself would be problematic for test administration or for the information generated, but rather to avoid potential distress to participants were they to find the tests administered challenging.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: lead

Study Sites (2)

Cheltenham General Hospital

Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL53 7AN, United Kingdom

Location

Gloucestershire Royal Hospital

Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL1 3NN, United Kingdom

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cognitive Dysfunction

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cognition Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 29, 2026
• First Posted: March 19, 2026
• Study Start: September 15, 2025
• Primary Completion: April 1, 2026
• Study Completion: April 1, 2026
• Last Updated: April 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (2)