Key Stakeholders’ Experiences and Perceptions of Virtual Reality for Older Adults Living With Dementia: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Protocol

Abstract

Background: Technology is increasingly being used in dementia care as a means of non-pharmacological intervention. One such technology, Virtual Reality (VR) has shown to be a promising vehicle to deliver interventions for people living with dementia. The views of people living with dementia and key stakeholders must be considered to inform future research. There is a lack consensus regarding VR design considerations for this population which makes it difficult for researchers and practitioners to develop meaningful VR spaces. Methods: This qualitative evidence synthesis (QES) protocol aims to explore key stakeholders’ experiences and perceptions of VR for older adults living with dementia. A systematic search will be conducted across six electronic databases. Forward and backward citation searching, and hand searching will identify additional articles. Two authors will independently complete title and abstract, and full text screening. Quality appraisal will be conducted using the CASP qualitative checklist. Included studies will be analyzed using a thematic synthesis approach. The GRADE-CERQual will assess the researcher’s confidence in the findings. Discussion: This QES will constitute part of a larger project which aims to develop a VR social connecting space for older adults living with dementia. The findings will also add to the existing body of literature exploring VR in dementia care contexts. It is anticipated that this review will add to the momentum toward holistic design practices, resulting in usable and acceptable VR spaces for older adults living with dementia.