TY  - JOUR
AU  - Li, Yijun
AU  - Shiyanov, Irina
AU  - Muschalla, Beate
PY  - 2024
DA  - 2024/10/4
TI  - Older Adults’ Acceptance of a Virtual Reality Group Intervention in Nursing Homes: Pre-Post Study Under Naturalistic Conditions
JO  - JMIR Hum Factors
SP  - e56278
VL  - 11
KW  - virtual reality
KW  - VR
KW  - computer-generated simulation
KW  - simulation
KW  - technology acceptance
KW  - nursing home
KW  - nursing facility
KW  - long-term care center
KW  - long-term care facility
KW  - older adult
KW  - elder
KW  - elderly
KW  - older person
KW  - older people
KW  - senior
KW  - understanding human behavior
KW  - meaningful activity
KW  - group intervention
KW  - human behavior
AB  - Background: Virtual reality (VR) group activities can act as interventions against inactivity and lack of meaningful activities in nursing homes. The acceptance of VR among older adults has been explored from different perspectives. However, research on the impact of older adults’ individual characteristics on the acceptance of VR group activities in nursing homes is necessary. Objective: This study investigates the impact of individual characteristics (eg, psychosocial capacities) on VR acceptance among older adults in nursing homes, as well as this group’s perceptions of VR after participating in a VR intervention. Methods: In this pre-post study conducted in nursing homes, we applied a VR group intervention with 113 older adult participants. These participants were categorized into two groups based on their naturalistic choice to join the intervention: a higher VR acceptance group (n=90) and a lower VR acceptance group (n=23). We compared the two groups with respect to their sociodemographic characteristics, psychosocial capacities, and attitudes toward new technologies. Additionally, we examined the participants’ perceptions of VR. Results: The results show that those with lower acceptance of VR initially reported higher capacities in organizing daily activities and stronger interpersonal relationships compared to older adults with higher VR acceptance. The VR group activity might hold limited significance for the latter group, but it offers the chance to activate older adults with lower proactivity. Openness to new technology was associated with a favorable perception of VR. After the VR intervention, the acceptance of VR remained high. Conclusions: This study investigates the acceptance of VR group events as meaningful activities for older adults in nursing homes under naturalistic conditions. The results indicate that the VR group intervention effectively addressed low proactivity and interpersonal relationship issues among older adults in nursing homes. Older adults should be encouraged to experience VR if the opportunity to participate is offered, potentially facilitated by caregivers or trusted individuals. 
SN  - 2292-9495
UR  - https://humanfactors.jmir.org/2024/1/e56278
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/56278
DO  - 10.2196/56278
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/56278
ER  -