Somatosensory game intervention experience among prefrail older adults in the community: A qualitative study

Somatosensory game interventions have been used to rehabilitate hospitalized older adults. However, their application in prefrail older adults in the community is poorly understood, hindering the development of effective intervention strategies and exercise diversification.

This study aimed to explore the experiences of prefrail Chinese older adults engaging in somatosensory gaming interventions and thus develop tailored intervention frameworks and support strategies.

We conducted semistructured interviews with 12 prefrail older adults who participated in a 12-week sensory game intervention study from August to September 2022. The interviews were analyzed using Nvivo 11.0 software following Colaizzi's seven-step analysis method.

Somatosensory game intervention experiences were classified into four main themes and 11 subthemes: health intervention effects (enhanced limb muscle strength, improved reaction capacity, alleviated negative emotions), positive experiences (enhanced self-achievement, increased exercise motivation, elevated social engagement), negative experiences (frustration from unmet score expectations, initial discomfort), and intervention requirements (sustained interventions, technical support, personalized content).

The findings have implications for somatosensory game interventions targeting prefrail older adults in the community.