Preston A'mie M, Brown Lana, Padala Kalpana P, Padala Prasad R
Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Eugene J Towbin Veterans Affairs Healthcare Center, North Little Rock, AR, United States.
College of Nursing, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.
Interact J Med Res. 2022 Sep 2;11(2):e38490. doi: 10.2196/38490.
Virtual reality (VR), a simulated experience that can be similar to or completely different from the real world, has become increasingly useful within the psychiatric and medical fields. This VR technology has been applied in medical school trainings, exposure therapy for individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and reminiscence therapy associated with mood disorders for older adults. Perceptions of VR through the lens of the health care provider require further exploration. VR has grown in popularity; however, this modality continues to be underused in most Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals.
A web-based survey was used to explore health care provider perceptions of immersive VR availability and use for older adults and identify potential barriers for immersive VR use in older adults with cognitive impairment.
An 8-item web-based survey was developed to obtain health care provider feedback. This survey was disseminated throughout a single Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN). The VR survey was developed via the Survey Monkey platform and distributed through the secure VA email network. Providers were asked to voluntarily participate in the brief, anonymous survey and offer their perceptions of immersive VR use within their patient population. Survey data were reviewed and interpreted using descriptive statistics.
A total of 49 respondents completed the survey over a 15-day period. Of them, 36 respondents (73%) had heard of a VR device, though the majority (n=44, 90%) had never used or prescribed a VR device. Respondents identified several potential barriers to immersive VR use in older adults with cognitive impairment (eg, hearing difficulties, perceptions of technology, cognitive concerns, access to resources, and visual impairment). Despite the barriers identified, providers (n=48, 98%) still reported that they would feel comfortable prescribing immersive VR as an intervention for their patient population.
Survey findings revealed that health care providers within this VISN for VAs have heard of VR, although they may not have actively engaged in its use. Most of the providers reported that they would prescribe the use of an immersive VR intervention for their older adult patients. This key point highlights the desire to implement VR strategies for patient use by their providers. If underlying barriers can be addressed and relatively resolved, this technological intervention has the potential to create substantial breakthroughs in clinical care.
虚拟现实（VR）是一种模拟体验，可能与现实世界相似或完全不同，在精神科和医学领域已变得越来越有用。这种VR技术已应用于医学院培训、创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）患者的暴露疗法以及与老年人情绪障碍相关的回忆疗法。从医疗保健提供者的角度对VR的认知需要进一步探索。VR越来越受欢迎；然而，这种方式在大多数退伍军人事务（VA）医院中仍未得到充分利用。
通过一项基于网络的调查来探索医疗保健提供者对老年人沉浸式VR可用性和使用情况的认知，并确定认知障碍老年人使用沉浸式VR的潜在障碍。
开发了一项包含8个项目的基于网络的调查，以获取医疗保健提供者的反馈。该调查在一个单一的退伍军人综合服务网络（VISN）中进行传播。VR调查通过Survey Monkey平台开发，并通过安全的VA电子邮件网络分发。要求提供者自愿参与这项简短的匿名调查，并提供他们对在其患者群体中使用沉浸式VR的看法。使用描述性统计对调查数据进行审查和解释。
在15天内共有49名受访者完成了调查。其中，36名受访者（73%）听说过VR设备，不过大多数（n = 44，90%）从未使用或开出处方使用过VR设备。受访者指出了认知障碍老年人使用沉浸式VR的几个潜在障碍（例如，听力困难、对技术的认知、认知方面的担忧、资源获取以及视力障碍）。尽管存在所确定的障碍，但提供者（n = 48，98%）仍表示他们会放心地将沉浸式VR作为对其患者群体的一种干预措施开出处方。
调查结果显示，这个VA的VISN中的医疗保健提供者听说过VR，尽管他们可能没有积极参与其使用。大多数提供者报告说他们会为其老年患者开出处方使用沉浸式VR干预措施。这一关键点凸显了提供者希望为患者实施VR策略以供使用的愿望。如果能够解决并相对消除潜在障碍，这种技术干预有可能在临床护理方面取得重大突破。
