Virtual reality for stroke rehabilitation: characteristics of protocols, pilot and feasibility studies

Authors

  • Andrada Elena URDA-CÎMPEAN Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Louise Pasteur Str., no. 6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
  • Diana Victoria BUHAI Faculty of Medicine, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Louise Pasteur Str., no. 4, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
  • Sorana D. BOLBOACĂ Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Louise Pasteur Str., no. 6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
  • Roxana Denisa CAPRAȘ Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Louise Pasteur Str., no. 6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania and Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy ClujNapoca, Clinicilor Str., no. 3-5, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
  • Ioana BOARESCU County Clinical Emergency Hospital of Cluj-Napoca, Department of Neurology, Victor Babeş Str., no. 43, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
  • Adriana Elena BULBOACĂ Department of Pathophysiology, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Victor Babeş Str., No. 2-4, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Keywords:

Virtual Reality (VR), Stroke Rehabilitation, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Quality of life (QoL)

Abstract

Introduction: Virtual reality (VR) for stroke rehabilitation is a therapeutic intervention expected to follow the randomized control trials (RCTs) requirements. This study aimed to identify the characteristics of protocols, pilot and feasibility studies reporting stroke rehabilitation with VR methods. Materials and methods: A systematic study was conducted regarding publications reporting on the use of VR for stroke rehabilitation. PubMed, Web of Science, and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers bibliographic databases were searched on March 2019. The keywords were (“stroke” or “stroke rehabilitation” or “neurological rehabilitation”) and (“virtual reality” or “virtual reality game” or “computer-aided therapy” or “assisted therapy”) and (“quality of life” or “activities of daily living”). All eligible studies published in English were included. The following were collected: experimental design, inclusion criteria for participants, age range, VR intervention, comparative intervention, the primary and secondary outcome. Results: Title and abstract screening stage had 326 studies, 60 entered the full-text screening stage. Five study protocols of RCTs, 1 protocol for feasibility study, 3 pilot studies and 2 feasibility studies were fully evaluated. All articles provided a structured abstract, 7 were registered in a RCT registry. All RCTs were assessor-blinded, with one exception. The upper extremity in adults was the target of the VR rehabilitation in 9/10 cases, only 2 provided the diagnostic criteria. The settings of intervention were community-dwelling (3 papers), hospital (2) or patient’s home (1). Data were collected at least twice (pre- and post-treatment). The lack of details on randomization and the VR intervention did not allow for study reproducibility, despite 9/10 papers presenting randomization procedure. Four study protocols provided information regarding the sample size calculation, sample size varying between 26 and 59. Conclusion: Not all VR for stroke interventions were registered in a trial registry, insufficient details were provided regarding randomization and/or VR intervention.

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Published

14.09.2019

How to Cite

1.
URDA-CÎMPEAN AE, BUHAI DV, BOLBOACĂ SD, CAPRAȘ RD, BOARESCU I, BULBOACĂ AE. Virtual reality for stroke rehabilitation: characteristics of protocols, pilot and feasibility studies. Appl Med Inform [Internet]. 2019 Sep. 14 [cited 2024 Nov. 12];41(Suppl. 1):15. Available from: https://ami.info.umfcluj.ro/index.php/AMI/article/view/721

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Section

Special Issue - RoMedINF