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Holistic nursing practice
2025 Mar-Apr 01;39 (2): 71-79.

A Situation-Specific Theory on the Use of Immersive Virtual Reality in Rehabilitation for Patients With Disabilities.

Valentina Micheluzzi, Ercole Vellone, Paolo Iovino
Author Information
  1. Valentina Micheluzzi: Author Affiliations: Clinical and Interventional Cardiology, University Hospital, Sassari, Italy (Dr Micheluzzi); Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy (Drs Micheluzzi and Vellone); Department of Nursing and Obstetrics, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland (Dr Vellone); and Health Sciences Department, University of Florence, Florence, Italy (Dr Iovino).
PMID: 39666877 DOI: 10.1097/HNP.0000000000000718

Abstract

A primary challenge impeding optimal health outcomes in patients with disabilities is the lack of rehabilitation adherence. Immersive virtual reality emerges as a promising intervention with the potential to significantly enhance this key health outcome. This paper presents a situation-specific theory that outlines the mechanisms through which immersive virtual reality can promote rehabilitation adherence. Outcomes of immersive virtual reality encompass psychological (ie, motivation, self-efficacy, mood state) as well as physical responses (ie, pain management, muscle strength). Mechanisms by which immersive virtual reality influences outcomes are explained by proximal and distal mediators (attention, sense of presence, enjoyment). Possible moderators of these mechanisms (ie, age, gender, social support, trust in technology, cognitive status) are also described.

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MeSH Term

Humans
Persons with Disabilities
Virtual Reality
Self Efficacy
Journal Article
Article has an altmetric score of 1

Word Cloud

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