Testing the usability and effectiveness of “A Wanderer’s Tale” a virtual reality application during burn wound procedures

Andrea Mc Kittrick^1,2, Mathilde Desselle ², Jason Brown^2,3, Lucy Holland ⁴, Allan James ⁴, Thom Saunders ⁴, Paul Gray⁵,
¹Royal Brisbane And Women’s Hospital, Herston , QLD, Australia
²Herston Biofabrication Institute, Metro North Health , Herston, QLD, Australia
³Professor Stuart Pegg Adult Burns Centre, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston , QLD, Australia
⁴Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane , QLD, Australia
⁵Tess Cramond Pain and Research Centre, Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service, Herston , QLD, Australia

Abstract

Introduction
Co-design was used to develop an Australian specific virtual reality (VR) solution – “A Wanderer’s Tale” –for Meta Quest headsets. The aim of this study was to determine the usability and effectiveness of this VR application during burn wound procedures.

Methods
This study used within-subjects experimental design. Eligible participants were admitted for acute burn management, aged over 18 years and requiring a minimum of two wound care procedures. Enrolled participants were randomised into one of two groups: Group 1- VR for first wound care procedure/ standard of care for second wound care procedure, Group 2- standard of care for first wound care procedures/ VR for second wound care procedure. Standard of care was defined as pain management and use of a radio. Data collection occurred at three time points 1. Pre-intervention, 2. Immediately post- intervention and 3. Delayed post-intervention (2-4 hours). Patient outcomes collected included: medications pre and during intervention, distress, boredom, pain, anxiety, and depression scores. Patient and clinicians completed technology acceptance surveys.

Results
n= 8 patients (male n=7, female n=1) and n= 8 clinicians were enrolled in this study. The mean TBSA was 10.4%. Body areas requiring wound care: upper limb n=5, axilla n=2, lower limbs n=4 and flank n=2. Pain scores reduced over time when VR was used. 87.5% of clinicians agreed the VR was easy to learn and there was strong support for use during wound care procedures.

Conclusion
The VR application was deemed usable by both groups and helped during burn wound procedures.

Biography

Andrea Mc Kittrick is the Advanced Specialist Occupational Therapist in Severe Burn Injuries at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. Andrea’s PhD through Griffith University focuses on hand burn outcomes. She is the current chair of the ANZBA Allied Health committee and the International Society of Burn Injury (ISBI) Rehabilitation Committee. She is a casual academic at The University of Queensland and a session lecturer at Australian Catholic University. She is passionate about collaborating to improve long term outcomes post burn injury.