Efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation training combined with multisensory stimulation on cognitive function and quality of life in patients after intracerebral hemorrhage surgery

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of cognitive rehabilitation training (CRT) combined with multisensory stimulation (MSS) on cognitive function and quality of life in patients following surgical treatment for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), aiming to provide an effective intervention strategy and theoretical basis for improving postoperative rehabilitation outcomes in this patient population.

Methodology: This was a retrospective study. A total of 80 patients who underwent surgical treatment for ICH at the Department of Neurosurgery, Baoding No.1 Central Hospital, between January to April 2025 were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the observation group or the control group (n = 40 each). All patients received standard postoperative care, including blood pressure and glucose management, infection prevention and nutritional support. In addition to routine rehabilitation guidance provided to the control group, the observation group received a combined regimen of CRT and MSS. Key outcome measures, including cognitive function, quality of life, mental state and degree of neurological impairment, were assessed at 1 and three months postoperative.

Results: At both one and three months postoperative, patients in the observation group showed significantly higher scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05). At three months postoperative, quality of life, as measured by the SF-36, was significantly better in the observation group (P < 0.05). Additionally, scores on the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Self-Rating Depression Scale were significantly lower in the observation group at both time points (P < 0.05, respectively). The degree of neurological impairment, as measured by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, was also significantly reduced in the observation group compared with the control group at both 1 and three months postoperative (P < 0.05, respectively).

Conclusion: The combination of CRT and MSS is an effective therapeutic approach for enhancing cognitive function, improving quality of life and alleviating psychological distress in patients after ICH surgery.