JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Falls are a common phenomenon among people aged 65 and over and affect older adults’ health, quality of life, and autonomy. Technology-based intervention programs are designed to prevent fall occurrence and their effectiveness often surpasses that of more conventional programs. But to be effective, these programs must first be accepted by seniors.

Objective:

Based on the Technology Acceptance Model, the aim of the study was to examine the acceptability among older adults (i.e., before a first use) of a virtual reality headset (VRH) used in an intervention program designed to prevent falls.

Methods:

A sample of 271 French older adults (Mage = 73.69 years, SD = 6.37) voluntarily and anonymously filled out the questionnaire containing the focal constructs (perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment, perceived ease of use, intention to use, fall-related self-efficacy, self-avoidance goals) adapted to the VRH designed to prevent falls.

Results:

The results of the structural equation modeling mainly showed that intention to use this VRH was positively predicted by perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment, and perceived ease of use. Perceived usefulness of this VRH was also negatively predicted by fall-related self-efficacy (i.e., the perceived level of confidence of an individual when performing daily activities without falling) and positively predicted by self-avoidance goals (i.e., having a physical activity to avoid physical regression).

Conclusions:

A better understanding of acceptability among older adults of this VRH prior to its first use may increase the effectiveness of intervention programs designed to prevent falls and using this kind of device.