The Use of Immersive Virtual Reality in Sensory Sessions on a Specialist Dementia Unit: Service Evaluation of Feasibility and Acceptability

Abstract

This service evaluation reviewed inclusion of Immersive Virtual Reality (iVR) relaxation activities as part of routine occupational therapy sensory sessions on a specialist dementia unit. Twenty-five sessions were completed over 13 wk with 14 participants. Nine participants chose to engage in multiple sessions. Feasibility was assessed through participant engagement and tolerability. Modal first session length was in the range 30 s to 2 min. This increased to over 2 min on second sessions. There was a lack of significant adverse effects measured by direct questioning, neuropsychiatric assessment before vs. after sessions and adverse incident reporting. Acceptability was assessed via structured review of user and staff feedback which noted positive experiences such as relaxation, openness to discussion, reminiscence, wider engagement and interest in future use. Further work is required to explore efficacy and use in other settings.

Keywords:

• Acceptability
• dementia
• feasibility
• occupational therapy
• relaxation
• sensory sessions
• virtual reality

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Dr Rudolf Cardinal, University of Cambridge, UK for advice on reporting data and Giorgio Koppehele, Magic Horizons for advice on use of iVR headset in other settings.

Authors’ contributions

All authors contributed to drafting of the work, final approval for the version to be published and accountability for all aspects of the work. FC and AW additionally contributed to design of the work and interpretation of data. RH additionally contributed to design of the work and acquisition. NO additionally contributed to acquisition. EW and JS additionally contributed to interpretation of data. RC, CH, PF and BU additionally contributed to design of the work.

Disclosure statement

Magic Horizons GmbH provided loan of iVR headset and software. Magic Horizons had no role in planning or reporting the service evaluation or decision to submit for publication.

Data availability statement

Summary data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, FC, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This project received no specific grant from any funding agency, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. Jeremy E Solly is supported by a National Institute for Health Research Academic Clinical Fellowship. Benjamin R Underwood is part funded by a donation from Goldman Sachs Giving. Paul C Fletcher receives consultancy fees from Ninja Theory Ltd, is supported by the Bernard Wolfe Health Neuroscience Fund and a Wellcome Trust Investigator Award [Reference No. 206368/Z/17/Z]. All research at the Department of Psychiatry in the University of Cambridge is supported by the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Center [NIHR203312] and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration East of England. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.

Notes on contributors

Felix Clay

Felix Clay is a Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Rachel Hunt is an Occupational Therapist at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Neche Obiefuna is an Occupational Therapy Student at University of East Anglia and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Jeremy E. Solly is an Academic Clinical Fellow in General Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK and Academic Visitor at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK. Emily Watson is a Core Psychiatry Trainee at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Alison Wilkinson is a Nurse Consultant at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Raminder Chohan is Ward Manager at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Catherine Hatfield is a Consultant in Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Paul C. Fletcher is Bernard Wolfe Professor of Health Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, UK and an Honorary Consultant at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Benjamin R. Underwood is Windsor Research Ward Clinical Director at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and Assistant Professor in Applied and Translational Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, UK.

Rachel Hunt

Felix Clay is a Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Rachel Hunt is an Occupational Therapist at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Neche Obiefuna is an Occupational Therapy Student at University of East Anglia and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Jeremy E. Solly is an Academic Clinical Fellow in General Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK and Academic Visitor at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK. Emily Watson is a Core Psychiatry Trainee at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Alison Wilkinson is a Nurse Consultant at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Raminder Chohan is Ward Manager at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Catherine Hatfield is a Consultant in Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Paul C. Fletcher is Bernard Wolfe Professor of Health Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, UK and an Honorary Consultant at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Benjamin R. Underwood is Windsor Research Ward Clinical Director at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and Assistant Professor in Applied and Translational Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, UK.

Neche Obiefuna

Felix Clay is a Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Rachel Hunt is an Occupational Therapist at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Neche Obiefuna is an Occupational Therapy Student at University of East Anglia and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Jeremy E. Solly is an Academic Clinical Fellow in General Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK and Academic Visitor at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK. Emily Watson is a Core Psychiatry Trainee at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Alison Wilkinson is a Nurse Consultant at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Raminder Chohan is Ward Manager at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Catherine Hatfield is a Consultant in Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Paul C. Fletcher is Bernard Wolfe Professor of Health Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, UK and an Honorary Consultant at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Benjamin R. Underwood is Windsor Research Ward Clinical Director at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and Assistant Professor in Applied and Translational Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, UK.

Jeremy E. Solly

Felix Clay is a Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Rachel Hunt is an Occupational Therapist at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Neche Obiefuna is an Occupational Therapy Student at University of East Anglia and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Jeremy E. Solly is an Academic Clinical Fellow in General Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK and Academic Visitor at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK. Emily Watson is a Core Psychiatry Trainee at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Alison Wilkinson is a Nurse Consultant at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Raminder Chohan is Ward Manager at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Catherine Hatfield is a Consultant in Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Paul C. Fletcher is Bernard Wolfe Professor of Health Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, UK and an Honorary Consultant at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Benjamin R. Underwood is Windsor Research Ward Clinical Director at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and Assistant Professor in Applied and Translational Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, UK.

Emily Watson

Felix Clay is a Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Rachel Hunt is an Occupational Therapist at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Neche Obiefuna is an Occupational Therapy Student at University of East Anglia and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Jeremy E. Solly is an Academic Clinical Fellow in General Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK and Academic Visitor at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK. Emily Watson is a Core Psychiatry Trainee at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Alison Wilkinson is a Nurse Consultant at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Raminder Chohan is Ward Manager at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Catherine Hatfield is a Consultant in Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Paul C. Fletcher is Bernard Wolfe Professor of Health Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, UK and an Honorary Consultant at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Benjamin R. Underwood is Windsor Research Ward Clinical Director at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and Assistant Professor in Applied and Translational Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, UK.

Alison Wilkinson

Felix Clay is a Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Rachel Hunt is an Occupational Therapist at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Neche Obiefuna is an Occupational Therapy Student at University of East Anglia and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Jeremy E. Solly is an Academic Clinical Fellow in General Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK and Academic Visitor at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK. Emily Watson is a Core Psychiatry Trainee at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Alison Wilkinson is a Nurse Consultant at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Raminder Chohan is Ward Manager at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Catherine Hatfield is a Consultant in Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Paul C. Fletcher is Bernard Wolfe Professor of Health Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, UK and an Honorary Consultant at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Benjamin R. Underwood is Windsor Research Ward Clinical Director at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and Assistant Professor in Applied and Translational Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, UK.

Raminder Chohan

Felix Clay is a Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Rachel Hunt is an Occupational Therapist at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Neche Obiefuna is an Occupational Therapy Student at University of East Anglia and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Jeremy E. Solly is an Academic Clinical Fellow in General Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK and Academic Visitor at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK. Emily Watson is a Core Psychiatry Trainee at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Alison Wilkinson is a Nurse Consultant at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Raminder Chohan is Ward Manager at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Catherine Hatfield is a Consultant in Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Paul C. Fletcher is Bernard Wolfe Professor of Health Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, UK and an Honorary Consultant at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Benjamin R. Underwood is Windsor Research Ward Clinical Director at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and Assistant Professor in Applied and Translational Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, UK.

Catherine Hatfield

Felix Clay is a Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Rachel Hunt is an Occupational Therapist at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Neche Obiefuna is an Occupational Therapy Student at University of East Anglia and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Jeremy E. Solly is an Academic Clinical Fellow in General Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK and Academic Visitor at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK. Emily Watson is a Core Psychiatry Trainee at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Alison Wilkinson is a Nurse Consultant at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Raminder Chohan is Ward Manager at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Catherine Hatfield is a Consultant in Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Paul C. Fletcher is Bernard Wolfe Professor of Health Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, UK and an Honorary Consultant at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Benjamin R. Underwood is Windsor Research Ward Clinical Director at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and Assistant Professor in Applied and Translational Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, UK.

Paul C. Fletcher

Felix Clay is a Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Rachel Hunt is an Occupational Therapist at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Neche Obiefuna is an Occupational Therapy Student at University of East Anglia and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Jeremy E. Solly is an Academic Clinical Fellow in General Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK and Academic Visitor at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK. Emily Watson is a Core Psychiatry Trainee at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Alison Wilkinson is a Nurse Consultant at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Raminder Chohan is Ward Manager at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Catherine Hatfield is a Consultant in Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Paul C. Fletcher is Bernard Wolfe Professor of Health Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, UK and an Honorary Consultant at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Benjamin R. Underwood is Windsor Research Ward Clinical Director at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and Assistant Professor in Applied and Translational Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, UK.

Benjamin R. Underwood

Felix Clay is a Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Rachel Hunt is an Occupational Therapist at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Neche Obiefuna is an Occupational Therapy Student at University of East Anglia and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Jeremy E. Solly is an Academic Clinical Fellow in General Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK and Academic Visitor at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK. Emily Watson is a Core Psychiatry Trainee at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Alison Wilkinson is a Nurse Consultant at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Raminder Chohan is Ward Manager at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Catherine Hatfield is a Consultant in Psychiatry at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Paul C. Fletcher is Bernard Wolfe Professor of Health Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, UK and an Honorary Consultant at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Benjamin R. Underwood is Windsor Research Ward Clinical Director at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and Assistant Professor in Applied and Translational Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, UK.