Playing for cognition:: investigating the feasibility and user experience of a virtual reality serious game for cognitive assessment in children with congenital heart disease

Charlotte van de Wouw; Eileen Bousché; Monique van Schooneveld; Hans Breur; H. P. Nijenhuis; Hanne Huygelier; Tanja Nijboer

doi:10.1186/s44247-024-00075-y

Playing for cognition: investigating the feasibility and user experience of a virtual reality serious game for cognitive assessment in children with congenital heart disease

Charlotte van de Wouw, Eileen Bousché, Monique van Schooneveld, Hans Breur, H. P. Nijenhuis, Hanne Huygelier, Tanja Nijboer^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Background
In order to facilitate the development and implementation of innovative technology in clinical practice, it is important to understand the user experience of end-users. Virtual Reality (VR) offers the possibility to assess cognitive functioning in a dynamic environment that simulates real-world situations. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the feasibility of a VR Serious Game for cognitive assessment in school-aged children
with congenital heart disease (CHD). The sub-aims were two-fold: (1) to objectively evaluate the feasibility of the VR Serious Game in children with CHD in comparison to typically developing (TD) children and (2) to explore the user experience of both groups following their interaction with the VR Serious Game.

Results
A total of 101 children participated in this study; 98 children were included in the final analysis (CHD: n = 54; TD: n = 47). The VR Serious Game appeared feasible for both children with CHD and TD children, with 88% children completing the innovative VR assessment without encountering any issues. There were no discernible differences in completion rates between groups. Children with CHD reported significantly lower scores than TD children on three user experience scales: Engagement, Flow and Presence. Nonetheless, the scores for Engagement and Flow were still considered "moderate to good". Both groups reported minimal adverse physiological reactions.

Conclusions
The findings suggested that the VR Serious Game was feasible for children with CHD and that the user experience was positive. Future research should investigate the effectiveness of the VR Serious Game compared with a conventional or digital neuropsychological assessment, prioritising the development of novel outcome measures that can better estimate and explain the impact of cognitive impairment on daily functioning.

Original language	English
Article number	24
Number of pages	8
Journal	BMC Digital Health
Volume	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s44247-024-00075-y
Publication status	Published - 18 Apr 2024

Funding

The research article was financially supported by the Hartekind Foundation (Stichting Hartekind; CHD and TD children), Kinderrevalidatiefonds Adriaanstichting (TD children) K.F. Hein Fonds (hardware), and Utrechts Universiteitsfonds.

Funders	Funder number
Stichting Hartekind
Kinderrevalidatiefonds Adriaanstichting
Utrechts Universiteitsfonds
K.F. Heinfonds

Keywords

Clinical implementation
Cogenital hearth disease
Cognition
Serious Game
Virtual Reality (VR)

Access to Document

10.1186/s44247-024-00075-yLicence: CC BY

s44247-024-00075-yFinal published version, 981 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

van de Wouw, C., Bousché, E., van Schooneveld, M., Breur, H., Nijenhuis, H. P., Huygelier, H., & Nijboer, T. (2024). Playing for cognition: investigating the feasibility and user experience of a virtual reality serious game for cognitive assessment in children with congenital heart disease. BMC Digital Health, 2, Article 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s44247-024-00075-y

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abstract = "BackgroundIn order to facilitate the development and implementation of innovative technology in clinical practice, it is important to understand the user experience of end-users. Virtual Reality (VR) offers the possibility to assess cognitive functioning in a dynamic environment that simulates real-world situations. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the feasibility of a VR Serious Game for cognitive assessment in school-aged childrenwith congenital heart disease (CHD). The sub-aims were two-fold: (1) to objectively evaluate the feasibility of the VR Serious Game in children with CHD in comparison to typically developing (TD) children and (2) to explore the user experience of both groups following their interaction with the VR Serious Game.Results A total of 101 children participated in this study; 98 children were included in the final analysis (CHD: n = 54; TD: n = 47). The VR Serious Game appeared feasible for both children with CHD and TD children, with 88% children completing the innovative VR assessment without encountering any issues. There were no discernible differences in completion rates between groups. Children with CHD reported significantly lower scores than TD children on three user experience scales: Engagement, Flow and Presence. Nonetheless, the scores for Engagement and Flow were still considered {"}moderate to good{"}. Both groups reported minimal adverse physiological reactions.Conclusions The findings suggested that the VR Serious Game was feasible for children with CHD and that the user experience was positive. Future research should investigate the effectiveness of the VR Serious Game compared with a conventional or digital neuropsychological assessment, prioritising the development of novel outcome measures that can better estimate and explain the impact of cognitive impairment on daily functioning.",

keywords = "Clinical implementation, Cogenital hearth disease, Cognition, Serious Game, Virtual Reality (VR)",

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doi = "10.1186/s44247-024-00075-y",

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Playing for cognition: investigating the feasibility and user experience of a virtual reality serious game for cognitive assessment in children with congenital heart disease. / van de Wouw, Charlotte ; Bousché, Eileen; van Schooneveld, Monique et al.
In: BMC Digital Health, Vol. 2, 24, 18.04.2024.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Playing for cognition:

T2 - investigating the feasibility and user experience of a virtual reality serious game for cognitive assessment in children with congenital heart disease

AU - van de Wouw, Charlotte

AU - Bousché, Eileen

AU - van Schooneveld, Monique

AU - Breur, Hans

AU - Nijenhuis, H. P.

AU - Huygelier, Hanne

AU - Nijboer, Tanja

PY - 2024/4/18

Y1 - 2024/4/18

N2 - BackgroundIn order to facilitate the development and implementation of innovative technology in clinical practice, it is important to understand the user experience of end-users. Virtual Reality (VR) offers the possibility to assess cognitive functioning in a dynamic environment that simulates real-world situations. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the feasibility of a VR Serious Game for cognitive assessment in school-aged childrenwith congenital heart disease (CHD). The sub-aims were two-fold: (1) to objectively evaluate the feasibility of the VR Serious Game in children with CHD in comparison to typically developing (TD) children and (2) to explore the user experience of both groups following their interaction with the VR Serious Game.Results A total of 101 children participated in this study; 98 children were included in the final analysis (CHD: n = 54; TD: n = 47). The VR Serious Game appeared feasible for both children with CHD and TD children, with 88% children completing the innovative VR assessment without encountering any issues. There were no discernible differences in completion rates between groups. Children with CHD reported significantly lower scores than TD children on three user experience scales: Engagement, Flow and Presence. Nonetheless, the scores for Engagement and Flow were still considered "moderate to good". Both groups reported minimal adverse physiological reactions.Conclusions The findings suggested that the VR Serious Game was feasible for children with CHD and that the user experience was positive. Future research should investigate the effectiveness of the VR Serious Game compared with a conventional or digital neuropsychological assessment, prioritising the development of novel outcome measures that can better estimate and explain the impact of cognitive impairment on daily functioning.

AB - BackgroundIn order to facilitate the development and implementation of innovative technology in clinical practice, it is important to understand the user experience of end-users. Virtual Reality (VR) offers the possibility to assess cognitive functioning in a dynamic environment that simulates real-world situations. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the feasibility of a VR Serious Game for cognitive assessment in school-aged childrenwith congenital heart disease (CHD). The sub-aims were two-fold: (1) to objectively evaluate the feasibility of the VR Serious Game in children with CHD in comparison to typically developing (TD) children and (2) to explore the user experience of both groups following their interaction with the VR Serious Game.Results A total of 101 children participated in this study; 98 children were included in the final analysis (CHD: n = 54; TD: n = 47). The VR Serious Game appeared feasible for both children with CHD and TD children, with 88% children completing the innovative VR assessment without encountering any issues. There were no discernible differences in completion rates between groups. Children with CHD reported significantly lower scores than TD children on three user experience scales: Engagement, Flow and Presence. Nonetheless, the scores for Engagement and Flow were still considered "moderate to good". Both groups reported minimal adverse physiological reactions.Conclusions The findings suggested that the VR Serious Game was feasible for children with CHD and that the user experience was positive. Future research should investigate the effectiveness of the VR Serious Game compared with a conventional or digital neuropsychological assessment, prioritising the development of novel outcome measures that can better estimate and explain the impact of cognitive impairment on daily functioning.

KW - Clinical implementation

KW - Cogenital hearth disease

KW - Cognition

KW - Serious Game

KW - Virtual Reality (VR)

U2 - 10.1186/s44247-024-00075-y

DO - 10.1186/s44247-024-00075-y

M3 - Article

SN - 2731-684X

VL - 2

JO - BMC Digital Health

JF - BMC Digital Health

M1 - 24

ER -