Virtual Reality Activity-based Training for Preventing Falls for Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Mild Cognitive Impairment; Exercise Training; Fall Prevention; Virtual Reality
• Interventions: Other: VR activity-based; Other: Exercise-based (Baduanjin)

• Registration Number: NCT05971420
• Lead Sponsor: University of Southern Queensland

Brief Summary

Using a Virtual Reality (VR) games-based application is as an innovative falls prevention technology in an aged care service. The VR intervention has promising effects on improving the physical and balance performances in the older adults.The study explored and evaluated the effects of VR activity-based training on falls prevention among community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

Detailed Description

A pilot randomized control trial study was applied to compare the effects on falls prevention between participants who experienced a full-immersive VR training and group-based exercise (Baduanjin) training. Eighteen participants were recruited from ausing convenience sampling and were randomly assigned into the VR group and the exercise group (non-VR). The participants in both wo groups' participants attended 16 falls prevention training sessions over eight weeks. Eligible participants identified with a higher risk of mild cognitive impairment and early dementia undertook three measurements, pretest (T1), post-test (T2) and follow up (T3). The primary outcomes assessed included changes in physical risks factor of falls, and the secondary outcomes assessed included changes in cognition and fall efficacy.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2021-07-01
• Primary Completion: 2021-12-30
• Study Completion: 2022-01-15
• Status Verified: 2023-07
• Study First Submitted: 2023-07-08
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-07-24
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-07-24
• Study First Posted: 2023-08-02
• Last Update Posted: 2023-08-02

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 18

Inclusion Criteria

1. aged 65 years to 85 years inclusive;
2. had a history of a fall within the past 2 years;
3. community-dwelling older adults;
4. at a higher risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia, assessed by a validated screening tool of Hong Kong Montreal Cognitive assessment test (HK-MoCA score=21/22);
5. walk independently e.g. able to access publicly - VR research center centre or local community aged care facilities.

Exclusion Criteria

if they had a medical diagnosis of unstable health conditions

1. dizziness;
2. Meniere's disease;
3. Epilepsy;
4. Parkinson's disease;
5. Severe hearing impairment and visual impairments;
6. Mental illness.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
VR group	VR activity-based	VR activity-based training
Exercise group	Exercise-based (Baduanjin)	Exercise-based training (Baduanjin)

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Berg balance test (BBS) - change is being assessed	At prettest, postest (up to 8 weeks) and post 3 months follow up	To test the balance performance and assess the fall risk. Total score is 56 ( score below 51 indicated predictive of fall risk)
Time up and go test (TUG) - change is being assessed	At prettest, postest (up to 8 weeks) and post 3 months follow up	To assess functional mobility and assess the fall risk. Score over 12 seconds indicates higher risk of fall for the older adults
Six minutes walk test (6MWT) - change is being assessed	At prettest, postest (up to 8 weeks) and post 3 months follow up	To assess the walking speed and performance. Walking distance within 6 minutes measured the length (m/metre)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Cognitive status assessed by Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale- change is being assessed	At prettest, postest (up to 8 weeks) and post 3 months follow up	To assess the cognitive level. Total score 30 ( score if less than 22 indicated higher risk of midl cognitive impairment
Executive functioning tests by Trail making test A and test B *TMTA/B) - change is being assessed	At prettest, postest (up to 8 weeks) and post 3 months follow up	To assess the level of executive functions. It indicated the time of completion (second)
Fall efficacy by fall efficacy international scale (FESI) - change is being assessed	At prettest, postest (up to 8 weeks) and post 3 months follow up	To assess the level of fear concern. Totoal score is 64 (score lower than 27 indicated less fear concern

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, St. James Settlement Hong Kong, Salvation Army Hong Kong; 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, China, Hong Kong