A Psychometric Tool for Evaluating Executive Functions in Parkinson's Disease

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Technology
• Cognitive Assessment

Background:

• Growing interest in 360° virtual reality (VR) for ecologically valid executive functioning assessment in neurologic populations.
• Need for innovative tools to evaluate executive functions in Parkinson's Disease (PD).

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the usability and user experience of the EXecutive-functions Innovative Tool (EXIT 360°), a novel VR instrument, in patients with PD (PwPD).
• To evaluate the EXIT 360°'s effectiveness in assessing executive functioning in a real-world context for PwPD.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-seven PwPD and 27 healthy controls evaluated the EXIT 360°.
• Usability was assessed using the System Usability Scale.
• User experience, including presence and engagement, was measured with the ICT-Sense of Presence and User Experience Questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Satisfactory usability scores were reported by both PwPD (mean = 76.94) and controls (mean = 80), indicating good learnability.
• PwPD reported a positive user experience, finding the tool attractive, enjoyable, activating, and funny.
• EXIT 360° demonstrated high ecological validity (mean = 4.29), spatial presence (mean = 3.11), and engagement (mean = 3.43) without significant adverse effects.

Conclusions:

• The EXIT 360° is a usable, engaging, and innovative VR tool for evaluating executive functions in Parkinson's Disease.
• The tool offers high ecological validity and a positive user experience for patients, suggesting its potential in clinical settings.
• Further research is warranted to confirm its efficacy in differentiating executive dysfunction in PwPD.