Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40397932›Full record

ArticleJMIR aging2025

Developing a Dyadic Immersive Virtual Environment Technology Intervention for Persons Living With Dementia and Their Caregivers: Multiphasic User-Centered Design Study.

Elizabeth A Rochon, Ayush Thacker, Mirelle Phillips, Christine Ritchie, Ana-Maria Vranceanu, Evan Plys

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR aging, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Elizabeth A RochonCenter for Health Outcomes and Interdisciplinary Research, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5942-5817
Ayush ThackerMongan Institute Center for Aging and Serious Illness and the Division of Palliative Care and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8918-2418
Mirelle PhillipsStudio Elsewhere, Brooklyn, NY, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7829-1234
Christine Ritchie *Mongan Institute Center for Aging and Serious Illness and the Division of Palliative Care and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4881-9416
Ana-Maria Vranceanu *Center for Health Outcomes and Interdisciplinary Research, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3994-6488
Evan PlysCenter for Health Outcomes and Interdisciplinary Research, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7313-0015

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPersons living with dementia and their caregivers experience frequent emotional health challenges. Across the illness spectrum, engaging in shared pleasant activities is an important feature of well-being for persons living with dementia-caregiver dyads. Under the umbrella of virtual reality, immersive virtual environment technology (IVET) offers artificial sensory experiences and shows promise in this population. IVET development benefits from a user-centered design approach, and as an emerging field, preliminary testing of safety, usability, and engagement for person living with dementia-caregiver dyads is required.

objectiveWe aimed to develop a preliminary IVET intervention for psychosocial health among person living with dementia-caregiver dyads. In doing so, we highlight design considerations and user preferences to ensure the safety and usability of technology-based interventions in the context of dementia.

methodsWe engaged 10 clinicians, 8 caregivers, and 3 persons living with dementia in 5 rounds of focus groups to evaluate the safety and usability of preliminary intervention features. Following prototype development, we engaged caregivers and persons living with dementia (n=9 dyads) in beta testing workshops to observe real-time user interaction with the intervention and guide refinements. Rapid data analysis was used to extract themes relevant to intervention development.

resultsThe following themes emerged from focus groups to inform prototype development: (1) designing flexibly to allow users to tailor the intervention experience to their own environmental context and circumstance, (2) designing with the dyad's clinical and relational needs in mind, and (3) accounting for illness and aging-related challenges in design. The following themes emerged from workshops to inform prototype refinements: (1) increasing user support through more feedback and (2) increasing variety of visual and auditory feedback.

conclusionsUsing user feedback throughout the development process, we developed a prototype of an IVET intervention, Toolkit for Experiential Well-Being in Dementia (the Isle of TEND), tailored to the needs of persons living with dementia and their caregivers. Our prototype uses specific design features to promote safety, usability, and engagement in the context of dementia. Future feasibility testing of the intervention is warranted. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.2196/52799.

Indexed as

CaregiversDementiaUser-Centered DesignVirtual RealityAgedFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMaleMiddle Agedcaregiversdementiadesigndyadsimmersivetechnology

Identifiers

PMID40397932
PMCPMC12138290

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.