Occupational therapists' views on using a virtual reality interior design application within the pre-discharge home visit process

Journal article


Atwal, A, Money, A and Harvey, M (2014). Occupational therapists' views on using a virtual reality interior design application within the pre-discharge home visit process. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 16 (12). https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.3723.
AuthorsAtwal, A, Money, A and Harvey, M
Abstract

BACKGROUND: A key role of Occupational Therapists (OTs) is to carry out pre-discharge home visits (PHV) and propose appropriate adaptations to the home environment in order to enable patients to function independently after hospital discharge. However, research shows that more than 50% of specialist equipment installed as part of home adaptations is not used by patients. A key reason for this is that decisions about home adaptations are often made without adequate collaboration and consultation with the patient. Consequently, there is an urgent need to seek out new and innovative uses of technology to facilitate patient/practitioner collaboration, engagement, and shared decision making in the PHV process. Virtual reality interior design applications (VRIDAs) primarily allow users to simulate the home environment and visualize changes prior to implementing them. Customized VRIDAs, which also model specialist occupational therapy equipment, could become a valuable tool to facilitate improved patient/practitioner collaboration, if developed effectively and integrated into the PHV process. OBJECTIVE: The intent of the study was to explore the perceptions of OTs with regard to using VRIDAs as an assistive tool within the PHV process. METHODS: Task-oriented interactive usability sessions, utilizing the think-aloud protocol and subsequent semi-structured interviews were carried out with seven OTs who possessed significant experience across a range of clinical settings. Template analysis was carried out on the think-aloud and interview data. Analysis was both inductive and driven by theory, centering around the parameters that impact upon the acceptance, adoption, and use of this technology in practice as indicated by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). RESULTS: OTs' perceptions were identified relating to three core themes: (1) perceived usefulness (PU), (2) perceived ease of use (PEoU), and (3) actual use (AU). Regarding PU, OTs believed VRIDAs had promising potential to increase understanding, enrich communication and patient involvement, and improve patient/practitioner shared understanding. However, it was unlikely that VRIDAs would be suitable for use with cognitively impaired patients. For PEoU, all OTs were able to use the software and complete the tasks successfully; however, participants noted numerous specialist equipment items that could be added to the furniture library. AU perceptions were positive regarding use of the application across a range of clinical settings including children/young adults, long-term conditions, neurology, older adults, and social services. However, some "fine tuning" may be necessary if the application is to be optimally used in practice. CONCLUSIONS: Participants perceived the use of VRIDAs in practice would enhance levels of patient/practitioner collaboration and provide a much needed mechanism via which patients are empowered to become more equal partners in decisions made about their care. Further research is needed to explore patient perceptions of VRIDAs, to make necessary customizations accordingly, and to explore deployment of the application in a collaborative patient/practitioner-based context.

Year2014
JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research
Journal citation16 (12)
PublisherJMIR publications
ISSN1439-4456
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.3723.
Publication dates
Print18 Dec 2014
Publication process dates
Deposited14 Feb 2017
Accepted18 Dec 2014
Accepted author manuscript
License
Permalink -

https://openresearch.lsbu.ac.uk/item/87748

  • 177
    total views
  • 151
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 7
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Return to Practice for Allied Health Professionals with protected characteristics: a mixed method study.
Atwal, A. and Sriram, V. (2024). Return to Practice for Allied Health Professionals with protected characteristics: a mixed method study. BMJ Leader. https://doi.org/10.1136/leader-2024-000981
Perceptions of Black and Minoritised Ethnic (BME) Occupational Therapists experiences on mentoring
Atwal, A., Sriram, V. and McKay, E.A. (2023). Perceptions of Black and Minoritised Ethnic (BME) Occupational Therapists experiences on mentoring. British Journal of Occupational Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1177/03080226231209817
Understanding the difference, makes the difference: perceptions of Black and Minoritised ethnic occupational therapists on mentoring
Atwal, A., McKay, E. and Sriram, V. (2023). Understanding the difference, makes the difference: perceptions of Black and Minoritised ethnic occupational therapists on mentoring. BMC Health Services Research. 23 (1050). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10012-w
Mentoring for Black and Minoritized Allied Health Professionals in Health and Social Care: A Scoping
Atwal, A., Sriram, V. and McKay, E.A. (2023). Mentoring for Black and Minoritized Allied Health Professionals in Health and Social Care: A Scoping. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare. 16, pp. 2251-2259.. https://doi.org/0.2147/JMDH.S413085.
Making a difference: Belonging, diversity and inclusion in occupational therapy
Atwal, A., Sriram, V. and McKay, E.A. (2021). Making a difference: Belonging, diversity and inclusion in occupational therapy. British Journal of Occupational Therapy. 84 (11), pp. 671-672. https://doi.org/10.1177/03080226211031797
Senior nurses’ perceptions of junior nurses incident reporting: A qualitative study
Atwal, Anita, Phillip, Miriam and Moorley, Calvin (2020). Senior nurses’ perceptions of junior nurses incident reporting: A qualitative study. Journal of Nursing Management. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13063
Guidetomeasure-OT: A mobile 3D application to improve the accuracy, consistency, and efficiency of clinician-led home-based falls-risk assessments
Hamm, J., Money, A. and Atwal, A. (2019). Guidetomeasure-OT: A mobile 3D application to improve the accuracy, consistency, and efficiency of clinician-led home-based falls-risk assessments. International Journal of Medical Informatics. 129, pp. 349-365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2019.07.004
Enabling older adults to carry out paperless falls-risk self-assessments using guidetomeasure-3D: A mixed methods study
Hamm, J, Money, AG and Atwal, A (2019). Enabling older adults to carry out paperless falls-risk self-assessments using guidetomeasure-3D: A mixed methods study. Journal of Biomedical Informatics. 92, p. 103135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbi.2019.103135
Falls Sensei: A serious 3D exploration game to enable the detection of extrinsic home fall hazards for older adults
Money, AG, Atwal, A, Boyce, E, Gaber, S, Windeatt, S and Alexandrou, K (2019). Falls Sensei: A serious 3D exploration game to enable the detection of extrinsic home fall hazards for older adults. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making. 19 (1), p. 85. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-019-0808-x
Interprofessional learning interventions: championing a lost cause?
Atwal, A (2018). Interprofessional learning interventions: championing a lost cause? Evidence-Based Nursing. 21 (2), pp. 32-33. https://doi.org/10.1136/eb-2018-102888
The efficacy of complementary therapy for patients receiving palliative cancer care.
Cedar, SH, White, M and Atwal, A (2018). The efficacy of complementary therapy for patients receiving palliative cancer care. International Journal of Palliative Nursing. 24 (3), pp. 146-151. https://doi.org/10.12968/ijpn.2018.24.3.146
How to mitigate the effects of peri-operative death on nursing staff
Rodger, D and Atwal, A (2018). How to mitigate the effects of peri-operative death on nursing staff. Nursing Times. 114 (8), pp. 26-29.
Polio survivors' perceptions of the meaning of quality of life and strategies used to promote participation in everyday activitie
Atwal, A (2014). Polio survivors' perceptions of the meaning of quality of life and strategies used to promote participation in everyday activitie. Health Expectations. 18 (5), pp. 715-726. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.12152
Fall Prevention Self-Assessments Via Mobile 3D Visualization Technologies: Community Dwelling Older Adults' Perceptions of Opportunities and Challenges.
Hamm, J, Money, A and Atwal, A (2017). Fall Prevention Self-Assessments Via Mobile 3D Visualization Technologies: Community Dwelling Older Adults' Perceptions of Opportunities and Challenges. JMIR Human Factors. 4 (2). https://doi.org/10.2196/humanfactors.7161
Mobile three-dimensional visualisation technologies for clinician-led fall prevention assessments
Hamm, J, Money, A, Atwal, A and Ghinea, G (2017). Mobile three-dimensional visualisation technologies for clinician-led fall prevention assessments. Health informatics journal. 25 (3), pp. 788-810. https://doi.org/10.1177/1460458217723170
Polio survivors perceptions of a multi-disciplinary rehabilitation programme Disability and Rehabilitation
Atwal, A (2017). Polio survivors perceptions of a multi-disciplinary rehabilitation programme Disability and Rehabilitation. Disability & Rehabilitation (Informa). 41 (2), pp. 150-157. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2017.1381184
The use of evidence-based guidance to enable reliable and accurate measurements of the home environment
Spiliotopoulou, G, Atwal, A and McIntyre, A (2017). The use of evidence-based guidance to enable reliable and accurate measurements of the home environment. British Journal of Occupational Therapy. 81 (1). https://doi.org/10.1177/0308022617737689
Fall prevention intervention technologies: A conceptual framework and survey of the state of the art.
Atwal, A (2016). Fall prevention intervention technologies: A conceptual framework and survey of the state of the art. Journal of Biomedical Informatics. 59, pp. 319-345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbi.2015.12.013
How are service users instructed to measure home furniture for provision of minor assistive devices?
Atwal, A (2016). How are service users instructed to measure home furniture for provision of minor assistive devices? Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology. 12 (2), pp. 153-159. https://doi.org/10.3109/17483107.2015.1111942
Using the Technology Acceptance Model to explore community dwelling older adults' perceptions of a 3D interior design application to facilitate pre-discharge home adaptations.
Atwal, A (2015). Using the Technology Acceptance Model to explore community dwelling older adults' perceptions of a 3D interior design application to facilitate pre-discharge home adaptations. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making. 15 (73). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-015-0190-2
Food Activities and Identity Maintenance Among Community-Living Older Adults: A Grounded Theory Study
Atwal, A (2015). Food Activities and Identity Maintenance Among Community-Living Older Adults: A Grounded Theory Study. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 69 (6). https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2015.016139
Food activities and identity maintenance in old age: a systematic review and meta-synthesis.
Atwal, A., Plaistow, N.A. and Gilhooley, M. (2014). Food activities and identity maintenance in old age: a systematic review and meta-synthesis. Aging & Mental Health. 19 (8), pp. 667-678. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2014.971707