Virtual Reality for Risk Assessment after Stroke
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Virtual Reality after Stroke; What is the Potential for Risk Assessment?
IRAS ID
138165
Contact name
Kate Threapleton
Contact email
Research summary
This research is developing a way to support the transition from hospital to home following a stroke. Before discharge from hospital, patients with a stroke can be assessed in their own home by a home visit with an occupational therapist (OT). During the home visit, the OT assesses the patient’s ability to cope with daily activities such as washing and making hot drinks, and potential safety concerns such as trip hazards are discussed. However, home visits are relatively expensive and time-consuming, and there is little evidence to show their effectiveness in discharge planning. We also know that not all patients are offered a home visit due to differences in practice across stroke services. This research therefore aims to develop an alternative approach to home visit assessment that is both cost-effective and accessible.
We have developed a computer software package of a virtual home with a kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom which have been designed to illustrate potential problems such as layout difficulties and safety risks. This may be useful for OTs to use clinically as patients and their carers could be given a guided walkthrough of the virtual home to highlight potential safety concerns, and discuss how they could cope with similar issues in their own home. This computer-based approach may be particularly beneficial for stroke services where home visits cannot be routinely conducted, so more patients can receive this alternative approach instead of having no assessment at all.
The opinions of patients, carers and clinical therapists will be sought to ensure that the design of the virtual home includes all the key practical issues and safety concerns faced on discharge, as well as being typical of patient home environments and layouts.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/EM/0397
Date of REC Opinion
14 Nov 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion