Gerontecnologia do tipo jogo sério de realidade virtual para prevenção de quedas em pessoas idosas

Abstract

Objective: Develop a virtual reality (VR) serious game-type gerontechnology to prevent falls. Method: A Design Science Research study conducted from January 2023 to February 2025, following these stages: problem identification and awareness; literature review; identification of artifacts and configuration of problem classes; proposition, design, development, and evaluation of the artifact; articulation of learnings; conclusions; generalization and communication of results. The research problem addressed was the occurrence of falls among older adults in the home environment. A scoping review (SR) was conducted on the characteristics and purposes of VR devices targeted at this population. After the SR, the development of the game began, following the principles of User-Centered Design, including three discussion sessions with 10 participants from a senior community center in Fortaleza, Ceará. These sessions explored furniture and objects for composing in-home game scenarios (bedroom and bathroom). Recommendations from the book Casa Segura were also used, along with elements from an interactive model and a board game, both developed by the Teaching, Research and Extension Group on Aging and Elderly Health. The game was developed using Unity 3D, Google Cardboard SDK, and the Google Cardboard headset. Usability and player experience were evaluated using the Model for the Evaluation of Educational Games, through analysis of Agreement Index (AI), Cronbach9s Alpha, Spearman9s correlation, and Wilcoxon test. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Ceará under opinion no. 5.359.760. Results: The SR mapped 20 studies, most focused on nonimmersive devices aimed at improving and/or rehabilitating declining functions. The developed game, named PrevineQuedas (FallPrevention), has an educational purpose. It features two scenarios with risk objects and two with preventive objects. The game requires an Android smartphone, Google Cardboard VR headset, the corresponding app, and a swivel chair. Players choose a scenario and have up to two minutes to identify objects, interacting through head and eye movements (up-down, left-right), offering an immersive experience. As objects are identified, their colors change: in risk scenarios, they turn red (danger); in prevention scenarios, green (safety and good practices). The game can be used by healthcare professionals with technological familiarity, knowledge of fall prevention, and communication skills with older adults. The evaluation indicated a usability AI of 91.42% and a user experience AI of 100%, Cronbach9s Alpha of 0.813, and Wilcoxon test with p = 0.001. Correlation analysis among the items showed statistically significant relationships, reinforcing the consistency of the evaluation instrument. Conclusion: The results indicated a positive evaluation and high acceptance of the game as a suitable tool for preventing falls among older adults.