VRCT - Randomized Controlled Trial
Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) are particularly difficult to manage in acute care settings, and often result in the use of pharmacological interventions and/or physical restraints which are associated with negative health outcomes. VR technologies become increasingly accessible and affordable, there is an opportunity to introduce this technology into acute care settings, however, to date there have been no systematic evaluations of the feasibility of using VR head-mounted displays on hospitalized individuals with Dementia.
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The objectives of this randomized-controlled trial were to investigate the clinical outcomes (impact on Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia, Falls, Length of Stay), report on the optimal VR characteristics for this population, and to establish a framework for introducing non-pharmacological therapies in acute care hospitals.
Our findings show that VR therapy appears to have a positive effect on aggressive behaviours in patients with dementia in acute care.
​Publications
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APPEL L., Appel, E., Lewis S., Appel, J., Kisonas, E., Rosenberg, J., and Smith, C. (2024) Evaluating the Impact of Virtual Reality on the Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia and Quality of Life of Inpatients With Dementia in Acute Care: Randomized Controlled Trial (VRCT). J Med Internet Res. 2024;26:e51758 doi: 10.2196/51758
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APPEL L, Kisonas, E., Appel, E., Klein, J.*, Bartlett, D.*, Rosenberg J, Smith, CN. (2021) Administering Virtual Reality Therapy to Manage Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Patients With Dementia Admitted to an Acute Care Hospital: Results of a Pilot Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) Form Res 5(2):e22406 doi: 10.2196/22406 URL: https://formative.jmir.org/2021/2/e22406
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APPEL L., Kisonas, E., Appel, E., Bartlett, D.*, Klein, J.*, Rosenberg, J., and, Smith, C. (2020). Introducing virtual reality therapy for inpatients with dementia admitted to an acute care hospital: learnings from a pilot to pave the way to a randomized controlled trial. Pilot Feasibility Stud 6, 166. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-020-00708-9
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Posters​​​​
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Appel, L. Kisonas, E., Appel, E., Rosenberg, J., and, Smith, C. 13th Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD) November 4-7, 2020. Administering Virtual Reality Therapy to Manage Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms in Patients with Dementia Admitted to an Acute-care Hospital: Results of a Pilot Study. Journal of Preventative Alzheimers Disease. 2020; 7(S1):S55-S119. doi:10.14283/jpad.2020.58. PMID: 33169785; PMCID: PMC7772113. URL:https://www.ctad-alzheimer.com/files/files/CTAD%202020%20Abstracts%20final.pdf​
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Appel, L. Kisonas, E., Appel, E., Rosenberg, J., and, Smith, C. 13th Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD) November 4-7, 2020. Virtual Reality therapy for inpatients with dementia admitted to an acute-care hospital: Learnings from a pilot to pave the way to a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Preventative Alzheimers Disease. 2020; 7(S1):S55-S119. doi:10.14283/jpad.2020.58. PMID: 33169785; PMCID: PMC7772113. URL:https://www.ctad-alzheimer.com/files/files/CTAD%202020%20Abstracts%20final.pdf​
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Chen, B., Appel, L. Kisonas, E., Appel, E., Rosenberg, J., and, Smith, C. 13th Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD) November 4-7, 2020. Predicting Response to Virtual Reality Therapy for Treatment of BPSD in Acute-care Settings. Journal of Preventative Alzheimers Disease. 2020; 7(S1):S55-S119. doi:10.14283/jpad.2020.58. PMID: 33169785; PMCID: PMC7772113. URL:https://www.ctad-alzheimer.com/files/files/CTAD%202020%20Abstracts%20final.pdf​
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Appel, L. Kisonas, E., Appel, E., Bartlett, D., Klein, J., Rosenberg, J., and, Smith, C. (2020). Virtual Reality therapy for inpatients with dementia: Learnings from a pilot study introducing a non-pharmacological intervention to an acute-care hospital. Poster Presentations at the 10th Canadian Conference on Dementia (CCD) Québec City, October 3, 2019. Canadian Geriatrics Journal, 23(1), 4-87. https://doi.org/10.5770/cgj.23.411
Posters
