Authors (including presenting author) :
NG Y.C (1)., Chan M. N. M. (1), Ip H. Y. J. (1), Tam C. Y. (1), Cheung H. (1), Ho H. S (2)., Wo S. W. (2), Chow C.C. (2)
Affiliation :
1. Department of Occupational Therapy, PYNEH 2. Renal Unit, Department of Medicine, PYNEH
Introduction :
A clinical study in 2017 found that approximately 19% of ESRF patients in renal ward of PYNEH exhibited cognitive impairments, particularly in memory and executive functions, complicating their ability to independently navigate the dialysis process.
Objectives :
This research aims to assess the effectiveness of Computerized Virtual Reality (VR) Cognitive Training in enhancing the training experience for patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) therapy.
Methodology :
This VR program was developed by the Occupational Therapy Department and the Renal Unit of PYNEH. The study was conducted in two phases: a control group of 26 patients received traditional cognitive training from October 2023 to March 2024, while an experimental group of 26 patients underwent VR cognitive training from April 2024 to October 2024. Patients were selected through convenience sampling, based on referrals for occupational therapy and their willingness to participate in cognitive training. In terms of participant demographics, the control group had an age range of 36 to 82 years, with a mean age of 63.12, while the experimental group had an age range of 21 to 82 years, with a mean age of 60.92. Each group included 12 females and 14 males. Regarding the dialysis systems used, the control group consisted of 14 patients utilizing Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD) and 12 using Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD). The experimental group also had 14 patients using APD and 12 using CAPD. All APD patients used the "Home Choice Machine" system; for CAPD, only one patient in the control group used “Stay Safe Balance”, while all others in both groups used “UltraBag”. The VR program was specifically designed to simulate the entire PD procedures, incorporating both CAPD and APD systems. The VR training was conducted by Occupational Therapists during Intermittent Peritoneal Dialysis sessions in the renal ward, aiming to enhance cognitive skills pertinent to the PD process. A satisfaction survey was administered to collect feedback on the VR program from the experimental group following the interventions.
Result & Outcome :
Results indicated a significant reduction in the training days of the experimental group, with a mean of 4.019 days (SD=0.4118) compared to 3.423 days (SD=0.6114) in the control group (p<0.01). Additionally, over 80% of patients in the experimental group reported improved confidence in learning PD procedures, enhanced understanding in recognizing the precautions against PD peritonitis and the importance of performing correct procedures. 88% of them agreed that VR was a very good intervention medium to improve their efficiency of the PD training. In conclusion, the integration of VR technology into PD training for ESRF patients significantly enhances training efficiency, potentially leading to better outcomes and a more autonomous approach to dialysis management. The findings suggest that VR Cognitive Training not only accelerates the training process, but also enhances patients’ confidence and knowledge.
