Background Falls are a common phenomenon among people aged 65 and older and affect older adults’ health, quality of life, and autonomy. Technology-based intervention programs are designed to prevent the occurrence of falls and their effectiveness often surpasses that of more conventional programs. However, to be effective, these programs must first be accepted by seniors. Objective Based on the technology acceptance model, this study aimed to examine the acceptance among older adults before a first use of a virtual reality headset (VRH) used in an intervention program designed to prevent falls. Methods A sample of 271 French older adults (mean age 73.69 years, SD 6.37 years) voluntarily and anonymously filled out a questionnaire containing the focal constructs (perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment, perceived ease of use, intention to use, fall-related self-efficacy, and self-avoidance goals) adapted to the VRH, which was designed to prevent falls. Results The results of the structural equation modeling analysis showed that intention to use the VRH was positively predicted by perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment, and perceived ease of use. Perceived usefulness of the VRH was also negatively predicted by fall-related self-efficacy (ie, the perceived level of confidence of an individual when performing daily activities without falling) and positively predicted by self-avoidance goals (ie, participating in a physical activity to avoid physical regression). Conclusions A better understanding of the initial acceptance among older adults of this VRH is the first step to involving older adults in intervention programs designed to prevent falls using this kind of device.

Falls in the elderly are a major societal issue. Virtual reality appears as a relevant tool to propose gait training programs to prevent the occurrence of falls. The use of a head-mounted display allows overground walking during fully immersive virtual training sessions. Our long-term ambition is to develop gait training programs with a head-mounted display to propose enjoyable and personalized training content for the elderly. Before proposing these programs, several methodological precautions must be taken. The first concerns the supposed similarity of the adaptive behavior produced in the real world and in virtual reality. The second concerns the acceptance of the virtual reality device before and after use. Twenty older adults performed a locomotor pointing task in three conditions including a real-world condition, a virtual-world condition consisting in a replica of the real-world condition, and a virtual condition in which the locomotor pointing task was performed in a different context. From feet positions in relation to the position of a target, gait adaptability behavior was investigated. In line with previous studies, step adjustments (needed and produced) were investigated through a combination of inter-trial and trial-by-trial analyses. The results highlighted that participants adopted the same gait adaptability behavior whatever the type of environment (real vs. virtual). Gait analyses suggested the use of a generic control mechanism based on information-movement coupling. We also demonstrated that older adults accepted the virtual reality device before and after use. With these methodological locks removed, it is now possible to design training programs in virtual reality to prevent falls in the elderly.

BACKGROUND Falls are a common phenomenon among people aged 65 and over and affect older adults’ health, quality of life, and autonomy. Technology-based intervention programs are designed to prevent fall occurrence and their effectiveness often surpasses that of more conventional programs. But to be effective, these programs must first be accepted by seniors. OBJECTIVE Based on the Technology Acceptance Model, the aim of the study was to examine the acceptability among older adults (i.e., before a first use) of a virtual reality headset (VRH) used in an intervention program designed to prevent falls. METHODS A sample of 271 French older adults (Mage = 73.69 years, SD = 6.37) voluntarily and anonymously filled out the questionnaire containing the focal constructs (perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment, perceived ease of use, intention to use, fall-related self-efficacy, self-avoidance goals) adapted to the VRH designed to prevent falls. RESULTS The results of the structural equation modeling mainly showed that intention to use this VRH was positively predicted by perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment, and perceived ease of use. Perceived usefulness of this VRH was also negatively predicted by fall-related self-efficacy (i.e., the perceived level of confidence of an individual when performing daily activities without falling) and positively predicted by self-avoidance goals (i.e., having a physical activity to avoid physical regression). CONCLUSIONS A better understanding of acceptability among older adults of this VRH prior to its first use may increase the effectiveness of intervention programs designed to prevent falls and using this kind of device.

Background Impaired gait adaptability is one of the major causes of falls among older adults by producing inappropriate gait adjustments in cluttered environments. Training programs designed to improve gait adaptability behavior in a systemic approach may prevent falls in older adults. Recently, the technology of virtual reality has appeared as a relevant gait training tool based on its training implementation potential. The present study was designed to compare the effectiveness of a virtual reality gait training program (VR group) for improving gait adaptability behavior and thus, reducing the risk of falls relative to a conventional training program of Nordic walkway (NW group). We hypothesize that the virtual reality gait training program will lead to greater gait adaptability improvements.Methods The protocol describes a randomized controlled trial with pre-tests, post-tests, retention tests and follow-up. Forty healthy independent living community dweller participants (65–80 years) will be allocated, after a general medical examination, to the VR or the NW group for a training program of six weeks. Primary outcome related to gait adaptability capacities and acceptance of the virtual reality device will be assessed in pre- and post-intervention and one month after the completion of the training program (retention). A follow-up will be done during the 12 months after the completion of the gait training program.Discussion This study will demonstrate the relative relevance of a gait training program in virtual reality versus a conventional one for improving gait adaptability behavior in healthy older adults and thus preventing falls.Trial registration CERSTAPS (IRB00012476-2022-14-10-200, 14 October 2022)