Staff perceptions towards virtual reality-motivated treadmill exercise for care home residents: a qualitative feedback study with key stakeholders and follow-up interview with technology developer

Bradwell, H. L. et al. (2023) Staff perceptions towards virtual reality-motivated treadmill exercise for care home residents: a qualitative feedback study with key stakeholders and follow-up interview with technology developer. BMJ Open, 13(11), e073307. (doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073307) (PMID:37996232) (PMCID:PMC10668234)

Abstract

Objectives: Health and care resources are under increasing pressure, partly due to the ageing population. Physical activity supports healthy ageing, but motivating exercise is challenging. We aimed to explore staff perceptions towards a virtual reality (VR) omnidirectional treadmill (MOTUS), aimed at increasing physical activity for older adult care home residents. Design: Interactive workshops and qualitative evaluation. Settings: Eight interactive workshops were held at six care homes and two university sites across Cornwall, England, from September to November 2021. Participants: Forty-four staff participated, including care home, supported living, clinical care and compliance managers, carers, activity coordinators, occupational therapists and physiotherapists. Interventions: Participants tried the VR treadmill system, followed by focus groups exploring device design, potential usefulness or barriers for care home residents. Focus groups were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. We subsequently conducted a follow-up interview with the technology developer (September 2022) to explore the feedback impact. Results: The analysis produced seven key themes: anticipated benefits, acceptability, concerns of use, concerns of negative effects, suitability/unsuitability, improvements and current design. Participants were generally positive towards VR to motivate care home residents’ physical activity and noted several potential benefits (increased exercise, stimulation, social interaction and rehabilitation). Despite the reported potential, staff had safety concerns for frail older residents due to their standing position. Participants suggested design improvements to enhance safety, usability and accessibility. Feedback to the designers resulted in the development of a new seated VR treadmill to address concerns about falls while maintaining motivation to exercise. The follow-up developer interview identified significant value in academia–industry collaboration. Conclusion: The use of VR-motivated exercise holds the potential to increase exercise, encourage reminiscence and promote meaningful activity for care home residents. Staff concerns resulted in a redesigned seated treadmill for those too frail to use the standing version. This novel study demonstrates the importance of stakeholder feedback in product design.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by UKRI Healthy Ageing Social, Behavioural and Design Research Programme grant number ES/V016113/1 as the project was completed by researchers on the GOALD project and the project also purchased MOTUS equipment for the study, with further support from the EPIC (eHealth Productivity and Innovation in Cornwall and the Isle of Scilly) project which was part funded by the European Regional Development Fund. Additional funding for the EPIC project was received from University of Plymouth. ERDF Grant number [05R18P02814], as EPIC also purchased some of the MOTUS equipment used. Finally, support was also provided by Innovate grant 10004423, which funded development, equipment and support provided by MOTUS Systems Ltd.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ryde, Dr Gemma
• Authors: Bradwell, H. L., Cooper, L., Edwards, K. J., Baxter, R., Tomaz, S. A., Ritchie, J., Gaudl, S., Veliz-Reyes, A., Ryde, G. C., Križaj, T., Warren, A., Chatterjee, A., Willis, K., Haynes, R., Hennessy, C. H., Whittaker, A. C., Asthana, S., and Jones, R. B.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
• Journal Name: BMJ Open
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• ISSN: 2044-6055
• ISSN (Online): 2044-6055
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023
• First Published: First published in BMJ Open 13(11):e073307
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence