The impact of training healthcare professionals to use the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS)

Approximately 50% of people living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (aka Motor Neurone Disease) experience changes in cognition and behaviour. People can now be screened for these changes using the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen’ (ECAS), developed here at the University of Edinburgh by Prof Sharon Abrahams and Thomas Bak. The ECAS provides a brief assessment of cognitive functions and behavioural symptoms and was specially designed for people with ALS/MND. It can be undertaken in written or spoken form, making it suitable for people with physical disability. Previous research has highlighted the need for health professionals to access education on cognitive and behavioural changes in ALS/MND and training in how to screen for these changes. In 2017, Prof Abrahams and Faith Hodgins developed and delivered certified ECAS training to 245 healthcare professionals in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and continue to deliver this training internationally, both in person and online.

In this talk, I will explain why screening patients with ALS/MND for cognitive and behavioural changes are important and the characteristics of the ECAS that make it suitable for these patients. I will then describe how the training for health professionals was developed, delivered and evaluated. Lastly, I will outline how we are evaluating the clinical impact of the ECAS from the perspectives of health professionals, patients and carers.