JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Immersive virtual reality (VR) provides promising initial findings in the treatment of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, research into the acceptability and potential barriers to the use of immersive VR in people with clinically diagnosed MCI is limited.

Objective:

This study investigates the acceptance of cognitive VR training compared to a VR nature scenario in people with MCI. Moreover, the relationship between the acceptance of immersive VR and a lack of cognitive abilities as well as depressiveness as potential barriers to the use of new technologies is analyzed.

Methods:

49 older people with MCI were randomly assigned to cognitive training or a nature scenario using a standalone VR device. The acceptance of immersive VR in terms of attitudes towards VR, computer-related self-efficacy, user experience and cybersickness was investigated. In addition to cognitive abilities and depressiveness, mood was also exploratively examined.

Results:

The participants showed more positive attitudes towards immersive VR after performing the VR conditions than before and reported a positive user experience. Furthermore, apart from one person, there were no to minimal symptoms of cybersickness. The expected correlations between the acceptance of immersive VR and cognitive abilities as well as depressiveness could not be proven. However, in line with our expectations, the acceptance of immersive VR was moderately higher in the nature scenario than in the cognitive training.

Conclusions:

The evidence of the high acceptance of immersive VR using a standalone VR device among people with MCI serves as a basis for the use of VR in their treatment. In addition, the study suggests that poor cognitive abilities and depressiveness are not barriers to the acceptance of immersive VR in older people with MCI. Future research should examine this and develop adequate measures to improve the acceptance of cognitive VR training.