Nathan Skidmore nathaniel.t.skidmore@durham.ac.uk
Research Assistant
Acceptability and feasibility of virtual reality to promote health literacy in primary care from the health professional’s view: A qualitative study
Skidmore, Nathan; Ryan, Cormac G; Mankelow, Jagjit; Martin, Denis
Authors
Cormac G Ryan
Jagjit Mankelow
Denis Martin
Abstract
Objective
The development of health literacy is important in the management of chronic pain and virtual reality may be an effective medium for its development. This study aims to understand the usability and acceptability of a virtual reality-based pain education system for the facilitation of health literacy.
Methods
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with health professionals who had used a VR-based pain education system within their clinical practice, to explore perceptions of feasibility. Data collection and analyses were informed by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology and the Integrated Model of Health Literacy.
Results
From 10 participants, the VR-based system was considered feasible in providing immersive experiential learning which addressed patient understanding and health-related communication.
Conclusion
VR appears to be perceived as an acceptable and feasible technology to support the development of health literacy in people with chronic pain. Its largest perceived benefit was its capacity to provide an immersive and entertaining alternative to conventional methods of pain education.
Practice implications
Virtual reality is considered as a feasible method of facilitating patient understanding and health-related communication related to chronic pain. Feasibility of such a tool relies clinically on time available, social expectations of VR, and the role of immersive and experiential learning within the management of chronic pain.
Citation
Skidmore, N., Ryan, C. G., Mankelow, J., & Martin, D. (2024). Acceptability and feasibility of virtual reality to promote health literacy in primary care from the health professional’s view: A qualitative study. Patient Education and Counseling, 123, Article 108179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2024.108179
| Journal Article Type | Article |
|---|---|
| Acceptance Date | Jan 26, 2024 |
| Online Publication Date | Feb 13, 2024 |
| Publication Date | 2024-06 |
| Deposit Date | Jan 31, 2025 |
| Journal | Patient Education and Counseling |
| Print ISSN | 0738-3991 |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Peer Reviewed | Peer Reviewed |
| Volume | 123 |
| Article Number | 108179 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2024.108179 |
| Public URL | https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3361113 |