The Use of Virtual Reality (VR) and the Change in Emotional State in Hong Kong Elders

Virtual Reality (VR) is a technology that combines virtual technology and real-world scenario. In recent years, more and more neuroscience and psychology scientists utilised VR technology in their research. In Hong Kong, many of the community-dwelling elders are immobile. Long-term homestay may negatively affect the emotional state. Measuring the emotional change after administration of VR may prove it as an alternative tool for emotion intervention.

The primary objective is to compare the improvement in the emotional changes between intergeneration interaction and the use of VR technology.

The secondary objective is to evaluate the side effect after using VR technology.

This is a randomized, open label-controlled trial with a crossover design. The subject will be randomized in a ratio of 1:1 into two different intervention groups, the VR group and the Intergeneration Interaction group. After 2 weeks of washout period, the VR group will receive Intergeneration Interaction and vice versa. The intervention phases last approximately 2 hours. The change in the emotional state will be assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Scale. Any adverse event that causes by the VR will be recorded using the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire(SSQ).

This trial is the first study in Hong Kong to investigate the change of emotional state after the administration of VR technology, targeting community-dwelling elders in Hong Kong.