Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Jul 10, 2020
Date Accepted: Dec 7, 2020
Administering Virtual Reality Therapy to Manage Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms in Patients with Dementia Admitted to an Acute-care Hospital: Results of a Pilot Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
As Virtual Reality (VR) technologies become increasingly accessible and affordable, clinicians are eager to try VR-therapy as a novel means to manage Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) which are exacerbated during acute-care hospitalization, with the goal of reducing the use for antipsychotics, sedatives, and physical restraints, associated with negative side-effects, increased length of stay, and caregiver burden. To date no evaluations of immersive VR-therapy have been reported for patients with dementia in acute-care hospitals.
Objective:
Determine the feasibility (acceptance, comfort, safety) of using immersive VR-therapy for people living with dementia (mild, moderate, and advanced) during acute-care hospitalization, and explore its potential to manage BPSD.
Methods:
A prospective longitudinal pilot-study was conducted at a community teaching hospital in Toronto. Ten patients over 65 years (mean = 87) diagnosed with dementia, participated in one or more sessions of viewing immersive 360° VR-footage of nature scenes displayed on Samsung Gear-VR head-mounted-display. The mixed-methods study included patient chart review, standardized observations during intervention, and pre- and post-intervention semi-structured interviews about the VR experience.
Results:
All recruited participants completed the study. Seven out of ten participants displayed enjoyment or relaxation during a VR session, which averaged 6 minutes per viewing. One participant experienced dizziness; no interference between VR equipment and hearing aids or medical devices was reported.
Conclusions:
It is feasible to expose older adults with various degrees of dementia admitted to an acute-care hospital, to immersive VR-therapy. This pilot provides the basis for conducting the first RCT to evaluate the impact of VR-therapy on managing BPSD in acute-care hospitals. Clinical Trial: Research Ethics Board ID: 748-1806-Mis-321 Clinical Trials.gov registration: NCT03941119
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