FEASIBILITY AND ACCEPTABILITY OF VIRTUAL REALITY FOR REHABILITATION AFTER ACUTE STROKE IN PATIENTS OF VARIOUS AGES

Abstract

Background Stroke is a devastating disease associated with long-term disability. Poststroke rehabilitation is tailored to improve the physical and cognitive functions of patients who have had a stroke. Virtual reality immerses users in experiences. There are no data supporting or refuting if a patient’s age affects their willingness to use virtual reality as an adjunct to acute stroke rehabilitation. Objective To explore generational differences regarding the acceptability and feasibility of using virtual reality as an adjunct to existing poststroke rehabilitation modalities. Methods This was a prospective, nonrandomized, observational study of patients admitted to a critical care area with an acute stroke diagnosis. Patients wore a virtual reality headset and played a standardized virtual reality game for 5 minutes while in a hospital bed. They then completed the Acceptability of Intervention Measure and the Feasibility of Intervention Measure surveys. Results Of 30 consented patients, 5 opted out before the 5-minute mark and 25 completed the study. Nine patients (30%) were from Generation X, and 21 (70%) were baby boomers. The mean (SD) score on the Acceptability of Intervention Measure was similar for both Generation X and baby boomers (17.3 [6.0] vs 16.9 [4.2]; P = .25), as was the mean (SD) score on the Feasibility of Intervention Measure (16.7 [5.9] vs 16.5 [3.4]; P = .29). Conclusions Virtual reality is feasible and acceptable for use in a critical care setting across generational cohorts.