Effects of Virtual Reality-Based Cognitive Rehabilitation in Stroke Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

During the process of recovering functional ability after damage caused by a stroke, it is important to restore cognitive function via cognitive rehabilitation. To achieve successful rehabilitation, it is important for patients to have a sense of efficacy in their ability to manage their disease well. Therefore, a virtual reality-based cognitive rehabilitation program based on self-efficacy theory was developed, and its effects were compared with conventional and computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation. The virtual reality-based cognitive rehabilitation program consisted of sessions lasting 30 min each five days a week for eight weeks. After applying the virtual reality-based cognitive rehabilitation program, there were significant differences in group-by-time interactions regarding stroke self-efficacy, cognitive function, visual perception, activities of daily living, and health-related quality of life. In addition, there were significant group differences among the three groups in terms of stroke self-efficacy and health-related quality of life. In conclusion, our virtual reality-based cognitive rehabilitation program developed based on self-efficacy theory is effective for inpatients with stroke and improves their stroke self-efficacy, cognitive function, visual perception, activities of daily living, and health-related quality of life.