Remote Home-Based Virtual Training of Functional Living Skills for Adolescents and Young Adults With Intellectual Disability: Feasibility and Preliminary Results

Background: Virtual Reality (VR) is acquiring increasing credibility as a tool for teaching independent living skills to people with Intellectual Disability (ID). Generalization of skills acquired during VR training into real environment seems to be feasible.Objective: To assess feasibility and veri...

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Main Authors: Simonetta Panerai, Valentina Catania, Francesco Rundo, Raffaele Ferri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2018-09-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01730/full
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author Simonetta Panerai
Valentina Catania
Francesco Rundo
Raffaele Ferri
author_facet Simonetta Panerai
Valentina Catania
Francesco Rundo
Raffaele Ferri
author_sort Simonetta Panerai
collection DOAJ
description Background: Virtual Reality (VR) is acquiring increasing credibility as a tool for teaching independent living skills to people with Intellectual Disability (ID). Generalization of skills acquired during VR training into real environment seems to be feasible.Objective: To assess feasibility and verify effectiveness of a remote home-based rehabilitation, focused on functional living skills, for adolescents and young adults with ID, by using virtual apps installed on tablets. In particular, to assess if this tool can be managed independently, if it is enjoyable and simple to be used, and if the acquired skills can be generalized to the real environment of everyday life.Subjects and method: A single group, pre- and post-test research design was used. Sixteen participants with ID were included. A digital system was arranged, with a server managing communication between the database and the apps installed on tablets. In vivo tests were performed before and after the eleven sessions of VR training. Satisfaction questionnaires were also administered.Results: Statistically significant improvements were found between the pre- and post-in vivo tests, as well as between the VR training sessions, in almost all the parameters taken into account, for each app. Final questionnaires showed a good satisfaction level for both the participants and their families.Conclusion: The highly technological system was managed independently by participants with ID, who found it simple to be used, useful and even fun; generalization across settings was obtained. Results obtained require to be confirmed by future controlled studies, with larger samples.
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spelling doaj.art-c6f2b6b6adf141bd86c6f5242ff850902022-12-22T02:29:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782018-09-01910.3389/fpsyg.2018.01730411045Remote Home-Based Virtual Training of Functional Living Skills for Adolescents and Young Adults With Intellectual Disability: Feasibility and Preliminary ResultsSimonetta Panerai0Valentina Catania1Francesco Rundo2Raffaele Ferri3Unit of Psychology, Oasi Research Institute – IRCCS, Troina, ItalyUnit of Psychology, Oasi Research Institute – IRCCS, Troina, ItalyUnit of Neurology, Oasi Research Institute – IRCCS, Troina, ItalyUnit of Neurology, Oasi Research Institute – IRCCS, Troina, ItalyBackground: Virtual Reality (VR) is acquiring increasing credibility as a tool for teaching independent living skills to people with Intellectual Disability (ID). Generalization of skills acquired during VR training into real environment seems to be feasible.Objective: To assess feasibility and verify effectiveness of a remote home-based rehabilitation, focused on functional living skills, for adolescents and young adults with ID, by using virtual apps installed on tablets. In particular, to assess if this tool can be managed independently, if it is enjoyable and simple to be used, and if the acquired skills can be generalized to the real environment of everyday life.Subjects and method: A single group, pre- and post-test research design was used. Sixteen participants with ID were included. A digital system was arranged, with a server managing communication between the database and the apps installed on tablets. In vivo tests were performed before and after the eleven sessions of VR training. Satisfaction questionnaires were also administered.Results: Statistically significant improvements were found between the pre- and post-in vivo tests, as well as between the VR training sessions, in almost all the parameters taken into account, for each app. Final questionnaires showed a good satisfaction level for both the participants and their families.Conclusion: The highly technological system was managed independently by participants with ID, who found it simple to be used, useful and even fun; generalization across settings was obtained. Results obtained require to be confirmed by future controlled studies, with larger samples.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01730/fullvirtual realityfunctional living skillsintellectual disabilityremote rehabilitationhome-based rehabilitation
spellingShingle Simonetta Panerai
Valentina Catania
Francesco Rundo
Raffaele Ferri
Remote Home-Based Virtual Training of Functional Living Skills for Adolescents and Young Adults With Intellectual Disability: Feasibility and Preliminary Results
Frontiers in Psychology
virtual reality
functional living skills
intellectual disability
remote rehabilitation
home-based rehabilitation
title Remote Home-Based Virtual Training of Functional Living Skills for Adolescents and Young Adults With Intellectual Disability: Feasibility and Preliminary Results
title_full Remote Home-Based Virtual Training of Functional Living Skills for Adolescents and Young Adults With Intellectual Disability: Feasibility and Preliminary Results
title_fullStr Remote Home-Based Virtual Training of Functional Living Skills for Adolescents and Young Adults With Intellectual Disability: Feasibility and Preliminary Results
title_full_unstemmed Remote Home-Based Virtual Training of Functional Living Skills for Adolescents and Young Adults With Intellectual Disability: Feasibility and Preliminary Results
title_short Remote Home-Based Virtual Training of Functional Living Skills for Adolescents and Young Adults With Intellectual Disability: Feasibility and Preliminary Results
title_sort remote home based virtual training of functional living skills for adolescents and young adults with intellectual disability feasibility and preliminary results
topic virtual reality
functional living skills
intellectual disability
remote rehabilitation
home-based rehabilitation
url https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01730/full
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AT francescorundo remotehomebasedvirtualtrainingoffunctionallivingskillsforadolescentsandyoungadultswithintellectualdisabilityfeasibilityandpreliminaryresults
AT raffaeleferri remotehomebasedvirtualtrainingoffunctionallivingskillsforadolescentsandyoungadultswithintellectualdisabilityfeasibilityandpreliminaryresults