Co-design and pilot of a virtual reality intervention to improve mental and physical healthcare accessibility for people with intellectual disability

Abstract

Purpose

This preliminary study aims to examine the use of a co-designed immersive virtual reality intervention programme in improving access to health care for people with intellectual disability.

Design/methodology/approach

A co-production approach was used to design a virtual reality intervention in collaboration with people with intellectual disability, their families and carers. A mixed-method single sample pre-test-post-test design examined using a virtual reality intervention simulating health-care environments to improve access of attending health-care appointments. Qualitative feedback was used to understand participants’ experience and opinions of using the digital technology.

Findings

The study found that the intervention did help people access health-care appointment and reduced their fear. Improvements were also found in quality-of-life post intervention. Positive feedback was provided from participants on using digital technologies indicating the novelty of the approach and potential further applications.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study which has used virtual reality to support people with intellectual disability access health care.

Citation

Acton, D.J., Arnold, R., Williams, G., NG, N., Mackay, K. and Jaydeokar, S. (2024), "Co-design and pilot of a virtual reality intervention to improve mental and physical healthcare accessibility for people with intellectual disability", Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-10-2023-0039