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The Role of Virtual Reality in Improving Health Outcomes for Community-Dwelling Older Adults - Systematic Review246.14 kB
Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
The Role of Virtual Reality in Improving Health Outcomes for Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Systematic Review
Journal of Medical Internet Research, Vol.22(6), pp.e17331-e17331
2020
PMID: 32478662
Abstract
Background: Virtual reality (VR) delivered through immersive headsets creates an opportunity to deliver interventions to improve physical, mental, and psychosocial health outcomes. VR app studies with older adults have primarily focused on rehabilitation and physical function including gait, balance, fall prevention, pain management, and cognition. Several systematic reviews have previously been conducted, but much of the extant literature is focused on rehabilitation or other institutional settings, and little is known about the effectiveness of VR apps using immersive headsets to target health outcomes among community-dwelling older adults. Objective: The objective of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of VR apps delivered using commercially available immersive headsets to improve physical, mental, or psychosocial health outcomes in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Peer-reviewed publications that included community-dwelling older adults aged ≥60 years residing in residential aged care settings and nursing homes were included. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for systematic reviews of effectiveness evidence. The title of this review was registered with JBI, and the systematic review protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews. Results: In total, 7 studies that specifically included community-dwelling older adults were included in this review. VR apps using a head-mounted display led to improvements in a number of health outcomes, including pain management, posture, cognitive functioning specifically related to Alzheimer disease, and a decreased risk of falls. A total of 6 studies reported a statistically significant difference post VR intervention, and 1 study reported an improvement in cognitive function to reduce navigational errors. Only one study reported on the usability and acceptability of the interventions delivered through VR. While one study used a distraction mechanism for pain management, none of the studies used gaming technology to promote enjoyment. Conclusions: Interventions to improve health outcomes through VR have demonstrated potential; however, the ability to synthesize findings by primary outcome for the older adult population is not possible. A number of factors, especially related to frailty, usability, and acceptability, also need to be explored before more substantial recommendations on the effectiveness of VR interventions for older adults can be made.
Details
- Title
- The Role of Virtual Reality in Improving Health Outcomes for Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Systematic Review
- Authors
- Gordana Dermody (Author) - Edith Cowan UniversityLisa Whitehead (Author) - Edith Cowan UniversityGraham Wilson (Author) - University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United KingdomCourtney Glass (Author) - Edith Cowan University
- Publication details
- Journal of Medical Internet Research, Vol.22(6), pp.e17331-e17331
- Publisher
- J M I R Publications, Inc.
- Date published
- 2020
- DOI
- 10.2196/17331
- ISSN
- 1438-8871; 1439-4456
- PMID
- 32478662
- Copyright note
- © Gordana Dermody, Lisa Whitehead, Graham Wilson, Courtney Glass. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 01.06.2020. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, is properly cited. The complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on http://www.jmir.org/, as well as this copyright and license information must be included.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Nursing; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99511305702621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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