Development of a virtual reality-based intervention for community walking post stroke: an integrated knowledge...

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Technology
• Virtual Reality in Healthcare
• Neurorehabilitation

Background:

• Virtual reality (VR) interventions show promise for improving functional mobility.
• Developing effective VR tools requires understanding user perspectives and optimizing features.
• Community walking is a crucial outcome for stroke survivors' independence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a virtual reality (VR) based intervention targeting community walking requirements.
• To gather clinician and stroke survivor feedback on a novel VR intervention.
• To identify optimal features and address potential challenges in VR-based rehabilitation.

Main Methods:

• Two clinician focus groups explored optimal features, support needs, and perceived factors of the VR intervention.
• Stroke survivors and clinicians interacted with the VR intervention, completing acceptability and perception questionnaires.
• Stroke participants rated perceived effort, presence, and cybersickness using validated scales.

Main Results:

• Key factors identified include patient eligibility, task complexity, cognitive stimulation, engagement, and therapeutic goal alignment.
• Clinician acceptability scores ranged from 28-42 (max 56); stroke participant scores ranged from 43-52.
• Stroke survivors reported moderate effort, high presence, and minimal cybersickness.

Conclusions:

• Early-phase findings will inform the refinement of the VR intervention by addressing identified factors and incorporating optimal features.
• This iterative development approach aims to enhance the VR tool's suitability for future effectiveness and implementation studies.
• User-centered design is crucial for developing successful VR-based rehabilitation technologies.