Use Of Virtual Reality Equipment Research Articles

Acceptability and Perceived Utility of Virtual Reality Among People Who Are Incarcerated Who Use Drugs.

People who are incarcerated are at heightened risk of overdose upon community reentry. Virtual reality (VR) may provide an innovative tool for overdose prevention intervention in corrections facilities. This mixed methods study sought to understand incarcerated individuals' perspectives on VR for overdose prevention and explore physiological arousal associated with use of VR equipment. Study participants were 20 individuals, stratified by gender, with an opioid use disorder at a county jail. Qualitative interviews assessed acceptability and perceived utility of VR in the jail setting. Thematic analysis indicated high levels of acceptability and potential utility in the following areas: (a) mental health and substance use interventions, (b) community reentry skills training, and (c) communication and conflict resolution skills. Heart rate variability (HRV) data were collected continuously during the interview and during VR exposure to explore whether exposure to the VR environment provoked arousal. Physiological data analyses showed a significant decrease in heart rate (HR) [b = -3.14, t(18) = -3.85, p < .01] and no arousal as measured by root mean square of successive RR interval differences (RMSSD) [b = -0.06, t(18) = -1.06, p = .30] and high frequency-HRV (HF-HRV) [b = -0.21, t(18) = -1.71, p = .10]. This study demonstrated high acceptability and decreased HR response of VR among incarcerated people who use drugs.

Use of virtual reality equipment to assess the manual dexterity of applicants for ophthalmology residency

To assess the microsurgery dexterity outcomes of two sequential training evaluations using virtual reality technology. This was a multicenter cross-sectional study of all candidates who were accepted as first-year residents at one of six ophthalmology teaching institutions. Residents were subjected to two identical series of standardized, reproducible dexterity tests using virtual reality equipment (Eyesi®): "sequence 1" and "sequence 2." Each sequence consisted of five difficulty levels that were assessed using a proprietary scoring system. The data were tested for normality using the Shapiro-Wilk test. The differences between tests in sequences 1 and 2 were evaluated using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The data did not follow a normal distribution. There were improvements from sequence 1 in all the tests (all p values<0.05). The sum of all scores (total score) improved from sequence 1 (median= 152.50) to sequence 2 (median 256.00; p<0.001). There was no correlation between the delta sequence values and the average scores. Two sequential training evaluations using virtual reality technology showed relevant improvement in quantifications of microsurgery dexterity. This information should be considered if virtual reality approaches are used for testing purposes, as previous experience may lead to improved test results.

A Horse in the Hospital: The Importance of Collaboration between Infection Prevention and Child Life Specialists

BACKGROUND Supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, child Life Specialists (CLS) play a pivotal role in helping pediatric patients cope emotionally and psychologically with medical procedures or hospital stays. Literature shows that CLS involvement leads to decreased anxiety and fear, and improved cooperation and adjustment to medical challenges. These patients also report lower levels of procedural and post-procedural pain. Additionally, family member support and anxiety reduction leads to improved coping in the patient as well. METHODS Our hospital has a robust Child Life program, with multiple events each day. For patients in isolation precautions, access to these events and activities was limited to what the CLS was able to provide in the patient room. These patients were unable to experience the distraction and benefits of the fully stocked playroom, as well as other larger events. Working closely with the Child Life team, Infection Prevention developed guidelines?that allowed isolation patients to safely experience activities sponsored by Child Life without the risk of transmission to other patients. RESULTS IP and CLS have developed a number of protocols for unique situations. These include allowing patients in isolation to attend private playroom time, visits from therapy and zoo animals, including dogs, horses, and reindeer, use of virtual reality equipment to enhance physical therapy, and providing donated blankets, toys, and stuffed animals. CONCLUSIONS IP can successfully support CLS to offer developmentally appropriate and beneficial opportunities for our pediatric patients while adhering to hospital infection prevention policy through the use of protocols and creative problem solving.

Establishing the reliability and concurrent validity of physical performance tests using virtual reality equipment for community-dwelling healthy elders

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the reliability and concurrent validity of commonly used physical performance tests using the OmniVR™ Virtual Rehabilitation System for healthy community-dwelling elders. Method: Participants (N = 40) were recruited by the authors and were screened for eligibility. The initial method of measurement was randomized to either virtual reality (VR) or clinically based measures (CM). Physical performance tests included the five times sit to stand, Timed Up and Go (TUG), Forward Functional Reach (FFR) and 30-s stand test. A random number generator determined the testing order. The test–re-test reliability for the VR and CM was determined. Furthermore, concurrent validity was determined using a Pearson product moment correlation (Pearson r). Results: The VR demonstrated excellent reliability for 5 × STS intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.931(3,1), FFR ICC = 0.846(3,1) and the TUG ICC = 0.944(3,1). The concurrent validity data for the VR and CM (ICC 3, k) were moderate for FFR ICC = 0.682, excellent 5 × STS ICC = 0.889 and excellent for the TUG ICC = 0.878. The concurrent validity of the 30-s stand test was good ICC = 0.735(3,1). Conclusions: This study supports the use of VR equipment for measuring physical performance tests in the clinic for healthy community-dwelling elders.Implications for RehabilitationVirtual reality equipment is not only used to treat balance impairments but it is also used to measure and determine physical impairments through the use of physical performance tests.Virtual reality equipment is a reliable and valid tool for collecting physical performance data for the 5 × STS, FFR, TUG and 30-s stand test for healthy community-dwelling elders.

Multimedia and virtual reality techniques in the treatment of male erectile disorders.

The present study is based on the observation that computer-simulated reality applied by virtual reality (VR) methods may offer a new means of treating male erectile disorders. The experimental design was based on the theory of psychological development, supported by multimedia acoustic experience and clinical tests. The method involved the use of virtual reality equipment and specially designed CD-ROM programmes. Excluding 15% drop-outs, the success rate was 82% for male erectile disorders due to psychological factors and 84%, excluding 17% drop-outs, for combined factor disorders. Psychotherapy with VR seems to hasten the healing process and reduce drop-outs, suggesting that this method opens or consolidates new or rarely used brain pathways, facilitating the flow of new mnemonic associations that promote the satisfaction of natural drives.