LearningRx Cognitive Training for Workplace Self-Efficacy in Adults with Post-Covid Brain Fog: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study

Background/Objectives: Cognitive dysfunction, or “brain fog”, following Covid-19 viral infection is strongly associated with diminished work capacity which disproportionality affects working-age adults. This study examined an existing method of cognitive reha-bilitation training applied to adults struggling with workplace functioning and self-efficacy due to post-Covid brain fog. Methods: Nine adults with post-Covid cognitive dysfunction participated in this single arm pilot trial of a severity-adaptive cognitive training program. Participants completed 45-90 hours of clinician-delivered cognitive training exercises delivered remotely in 60 to 90-minute sessions, 2 or 3 times per week. The primary outcome measure was overall workplace self-efficacy with subskills of perceived workplace functioning, perception of cognitive functioning, and perception of [1–3]home functioning assessed through a pre and post quantitative survey and quali-tative interviews. The secondary outcome was cognitive function operationalized by IQ score administered before and after the intervention. Results: Participants achieved significant improvements in workplace self-efficacy and cognition following cognitive training. The main qualitative themes of self-reported improvements were in executive function, health and energy, daily living activities, productivity, and socioemotional functioning. A cross-case synthesis of pre-intervention struggles and post-intervention improvements revealed subthemes at work or school in cognitive processing and com-prehension, memory, executive function, fatigue, emotional distress, confidence in work or academics, and work/academic performance impairment. As a group, the mean gain in IQ score was 10.5 points. Conclusions: This study adds to the growing body of literature examining how cognitive rehabilitation for post-Covid cognitive sequalae may be im-portant for restoring not only cognitive functioning but also workplace self-efficacy and performance.