Evaluation of a VR prototype for neuropsychological rehabilitation of attentional functions

• Published in: Virtual reality : the journal of the Virtual Reality Society 2023-03, Vol.27 (1), p.187-199
• Main Authors: Lorentz, Lukas, Simone, Mariella, Zimmermann, Marcel, Studer, Bettina, Suchan, Boris, Althausen, Anita, Estocinova, Jana, Müller, Kristina, Lendt, Michael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acceptability; Artificial Intelligence; Computer Graphics; Computer Science; Evaluation; Feasibility studies; Functionals; Head injuries; Illnesses; Image Processing and Computer Vision; Neuropsychology; Physical and Cognitive Rehabilitation; Prototypes; Psychological Interventions; Questionnaires; Rehabilitation; S.I. : Virtual Reality for Therapy; Training; User experience; User Interfaces and Human Computer Interaction; Virtual reality
• ISSN: 1359-4338; 1434-9957
• DOI: 10.1007/s10055-021-00534-1

Background Recent research has established virtual reality (VR) applications as a valid and viable tool for neuropsychological assessment. In contrast, there are only a few studies on its potential as a therapeutic program. To examine the prospects of VR as a tool for functional rehabilitation, a VR training program of attentional functions was conceptualized during a Hackathon in 2018. The prototype of the immersive VR training program takes the patient on a virtual journey around the world ( VR   Traveller ). In different locations around the globe, patients exercise different subcomponents of attention in a visually appealing and ecologically valid environment. Objective To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and tolerability of the newly developed VR Traveller prototype for neurorehabilitation training. Method Thirty-five patients with acquired brain injury and mild to moderate attention deficits were instructed to complete the VR Traveller training program in a 20–30 min session during inpatient neurorehabilitation. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed with the user experience questionnaire (UEQ) and a self-constructed feasibility questionnaire, and tolerability was assessed with the virtual reality sickness questionnaire (VRSQ). Results Analyses of the UEQ and the feasibility questionnaire yield evidence for a high acceptance among most patients. The VRSQ data suggest that symptoms of VR sickness were hardly experienced. Conclusion Patients’ ratings of the VR training in terms of acceptability and feasibility were positive, suggesting that VR programs represent an accepted, feasible, and well-received alternative to traditional cognitive rehabilitation approaches.