Affiliations: [a] Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong | [b] Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Haifa, Israel
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: David W.K. Man, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Tel.: +852 2766 6711; Fax: +852 2330 8656; E-mail: rsdavid@polyu.edu.hk
Abstract: Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of a 2-D virtual reality (2DVR) programme in the training of people with stroke on how to access and use the station facilities of the Mass Transit Railway (MTR). Method:A flat-screen 2DVR based training programme and a corresponding, typical psycho-educational programme with video modelling were developed for comparison through a research design that involved a randomised control group pre-test and post-test. Results:Twenty and sixteen subjects respectively received 10 training sessions using the 2DVR strategy and a video-based psycho-educational programme. An additional 22 subjects formed the control group. They were assessed by using a behavioural checklist of MTR skills and a newly validated MTR self-efficacy scale. The subjects of both training groups showed a significant improvement in their knowledge, skills and self-efficacy in using the MTR (p < 0.01), whereas, the MTR skills and self-efficacy of the control group remained stable over a four-week interval. Conclusion:Though both training programmes were effective in training the patients with stroke, they demonstrated differential improvements in MTR skills and related self-efficacy. Additional studies are recommended to identify the most effective training procedures for maintaining these skills and the best transfer ratio in the training of VR-based community living skills of people with stroke.
