Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health, Polytechnic of Porto, R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 400, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.
Psychosocial Rehabilitation Lab, Center for Rehabilitation Research (CIR), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 400, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Dec 12;17(24):9301. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17249301.
This study aimed to explore the feasibility and effects of promoting reminiscences, using virtual reality (VR) headsets for viewing 360° videos with personal relevance, with people with dementia. A study with a mixed methods design was conducted with nine older adults diagnosed with dementia. Interventions consisted of four sessions, in which the participants' engagement, psychological and behavioral symptoms, and simulation sickness symptoms were evaluated. Neuropsychiatric symptomatology and quality of life were measured pre- and post-intervention. Caregivers were interviewed regarding the effect of the approach. In most cases, participants appeared to enjoy the sessions, actively explored the 360° environment, and shared memories associated with the depicted locations, often spontaneously. There were no cases of significant increases in simulator sickness and psychological and behavioral symptoms during sessions, with only some instances of minor eyestrain, fullness of head, anxiety, irritability, and agitation being detected. Although there were no significant changes in the measured outcomes after intervention, the caregivers assessed the experience as potentially beneficial for most participants. In this study, promoting reminiscences with VR headsets was found to be a safe and engaging experience for people with dementia. However, future studies are required to better understand the added value of immersion, using VR, in reminiscence therapy.
本研究旨在探索使用虚拟现实（VR）耳机观看具有个人相关性的 360°视频来唤起记忆的可行性和效果，以此来帮助痴呆症患者。本研究采用混合方法设计，共纳入 9 名被诊断为痴呆症的老年人。干预措施包括 4 个疗程，在此期间评估参与者的参与度、心理和行为症状以及模拟晕动病症状。在干预前后测量神经精神症状和生活质量。对护理人员进行了关于该方法效果的访谈。在大多数情况下，参与者似乎喜欢这些疗程，积极探索 360°环境，并分享与所描绘地点相关的记忆，通常是自发的。在疗程中，没有出现明显的模拟器晕动病和心理及行为症状增加的情况，只有少数人出现轻微的眼疲劳、头部饱满感、焦虑、易怒和烦躁不安的情况。尽管干预后测量结果没有显著变化，但护理人员评估认为，对于大多数参与者来说，这种体验具有潜在的益处。在这项研究中，使用 VR 耳机来唤起记忆对痴呆症患者来说是一种安全且引人入胜的体验。然而，需要进一步的研究来更好地理解 VR 沉浸式体验在回忆疗法中的附加价值。
