P-058: Are we there yet? Immersive virtual reality in dementia

摘要

Background: The world is facing a Dementia epidemic. Cognitive training therapies appear to show promise in delaying this progression. There is discussion that the delivery of these therapies can be enhanced through immersing virtual reality (IVR), removing potential distractors for dementia and cognitively impaired patients and enhancing their experience, resulting in increased engagement in these therapies. Objective: Our goal was to summarise the current research investigating the use of Immersive Virtual Reality in Dementia. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review. A comprehensive search strategy was developed, based on two broad facets (1) dementia and (2) virtual reality. We undertook searches of five databases, article references and citations. Results: Our search identified a total of 2824 citations, following screening for duplicates and application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 5 studies were included for analysis. Included studies were heterogenous in nature, with general findings showing that IVR is acceptable to this population group and may have potential in improving cognitive function. Conclusions: Studies on the topic of IVR for managing dementia and cognitive impairment are promising, with IVR proving more than acceptable to patients and offering some potential for improvements in cognitive function. It is now important to develop a universally accepted set of reporting guidelines, highlighting the need to assess presence, directly compare hardware and consider the theoretical basis of IVR interventions.