Exploring the content of the STAND-VR intervention: A qualitative interview study

Abstract

Prolonged sedentary behaviour has been identified as a potential independent contributor to a number of chronic conditions as well as mortality. The integration of digital technology into health behaviour change interventions has been shown to contribute to increases in physical activity levels, reductions in time spent sedentary, reductions in systolic blood pressure and improvements physical functioning. Recent evidence suggests that older adults could be motivated to adopt a technology such as immersive virtual reality (IVR) due to the added agency it can potentially afford them in their lives through physical and social activities offered in IVR. To date, little research has attempted to integrate health behaviour change content into an immersive virtual environment. This study aimed to qualitatively explore older adults’ perspectives on the content of a novel intervention, STAND-VR, and how it could be integrated into an immersive virtual environment. This study was reported using the COREQ guidelines. Twelve participants aged between 60 and 91 years took part. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed. Reflexive thematic analysis was the chosen method of analysis. Three themes were developed, “Immersive Virtual Reality: The Cover versus the Contents”, “Ironing Out the (Behavioural) Details” and, “When Two Worlds Collide”. These themes offer insights into how retired and non-working adults perceived IVR before and after use, how they would like to learn how to use IVR, the content and people they would like to interact with and finally, their beliefs about their sedentary activity and using IVR. These findings will contribute to future work which aims to design IVR experiences that are more accessible to retired and non-working adults, offering greater agency to take part in activities that reduce sedentary behaviour and improve associated health outcomes and, importantly, offer further opportunity to take part in activities they can ascribe greater meaning to.

Age Unplugged: A Brief Narrative Review on the Intersection of Digital Tools, Sedentary and Physical Activity Behaviors in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

“…Studies indicate a clear preference among older adults for VR experiences that emphasize enjoyment, suggesting that incidental PA is the preferred form of engagement [85]. This preference highlights the importance of longitudinal research to understand older adults' long-term engagement with VR and to gain insights into the evolution of their interactions with the technology.…”

“…In addition, research has shed light on the critical role of digital interventions, particularly immersive VR exergames, in promoting PA and reducing SB in older adults, thereby improving their health, well-being, and quality of life. These technologies, recognized for their ease of use, effectiveness, and ability to increase user engagement, are central to promoting healthier behavior in older adults [17,70,85]. The strategic use of gamification elements, such as leaderboards, acts as a motivator for increased PA and merits further investigation [86].…”

“…These technological advances are lauded for their transformative impact on the active aging landscape, going beyond traditional health intervention models and significantly improving quality of life. The nuanced analysis highlights that the effective use of these digital solutions depends on careful consideration of device functionality, ease of use, and individual preferences [21,87], and advocates for a holistic, user-centered approach to the design of digital interventions [45,85,88]. Furthermore, it has been shown that embedding these digital interventions into established behavioral frameworks, particularly is crucial for optimizing user accessibility and engagement.…”