• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.430-435
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• 2014

Purpose: The objective of this study was a virtual reality-based balance training program effective for improvement in physical function, examined the balance ability and fall efficacy of elderly women with experienced falls, intending to examine the program's usefulness as an exercise program to prevent the recurrence of a fall. Methods: The participants were 30 elderly women aged 65 or older who met the conditions. The participants were randomly assigned to either a balance training group (BT) or a virtual reality-based balance training group (VT) and received the training three times per week, 30 minutes per day, for six weeks. To measure static balance, the Tetrax Portable Multiple System (Tetrax Ltd, Israel) were used. To measure dynamic balance, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and functional reach test (FRT) was used, and regarding fall efficacy, the Korean Fall Efficacy Scale (K-FES) was used. Results: Tetrax significantly improved after the intervention in both the BT group and the VT group (p<0.05). The comparison between the two groups was not significantly. BBS and FRT result significantly improved after the intervention in both the BT and VT groups (p<0.001), while K-FES was significantly ameliorated in the VT group only (p<.05). Comparing the groups, there were more significant changes in the BBS (p<0.05) and FRT (p<0.01) result of the VT group than the BT group. Conclusion: A virtual reality-based balance training program is considered to be usable as an exercise program to prevent recurrence of falls in elderly women.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.109-124
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• 2024

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a virtual reality-based complex cognitive training program for depression, cognitive function, and digital divide reduction in the elderly who have not been diagnosed with dementia or MCI. Methods : We enrolled 16 participants who were over 65 years old and not been diagnosed with dementia or MCI. We randomly divided into three groups (A, B, C). Participants underwent an 8-week virtual reality-based complex cognitive training program (60 minutes each session, twice per week). At a baseline, all participants completed questionnaires on general features, depression and cognitive function. After four weeks, all participants completed questionnaires on depression and cognitive function. After the end of the last program, participants conducted questionnaires on depression, cognitive function, and usability evaluation. Results : At the 8-week follow-up, 16 participants completed the program. Compared to the baseline, the average score of cognitive function was increased (from 26.5 to 28.5), although it was not statistically significant (p<.061). There were no significant differences between baseline and post-training evaluations on depression scores. The average score of usability evaluation was 75.56, which corresponds to good. Conclusion : Even though the results showed no statistically significant findings in cognitive function and depression after the virtual reality-based complex cognitive training intervention, this pilot study proposed the possibility of utilizing the virtual reality program as a tool that provides active learning opportunities for the elderly and helps improve their cognitive function through multi-sensory components. Also, the findings of this study suggested a positive reevaluation of the elderly's digital access capabilities while reducing the digital divide. A virtual reality-based complex cognitive training program improved the social network of the elderly. We expect that it will expand in size and help with their social participation of the elderly.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to investigate the effectiveness of an 8-week virtual reality exercise program designed around the Nintendo Wii (Wii), in improving balance among patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Methods: The study included 16 patients with MS (10 female, 6 male) who were assigned randomly to experimental (n=8) or control group (n=8). Experimental group performed three 40-minute Wii balance-training sessions per week, for 8 weeks. The control group did not perform any of the training programs. A computerized dynamic posturography (Sensory Organizing Test, SOT) was used to evaluate all patients at baseline and at the end of the treatment protocol. Statistical significance was tested in between the patients before and after treatment by t-test. Results: After 24 training sessions, SOT showed significant difference on condition 5, 6, and vestibular ratios within the experimental group from baseline to post-intervention. By contrast, no significant difference was observed within the control groups. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that the virtual reality training program could improve the outcomes in terms of balance in the MS population. Long term follow ups and the development of more efficient virtual reality training programs are needed.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.273-278
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of three-dimensional virtual reality horse riding simulator training using a head-mounted display on gait and balance in children with cerebral palsy. Methods: Ten children with cerebral palsy were randomly assigned to the horse riding simulator (HRS) group (n=5) or the horse riding simulator with virtual reality (HRSVR) group (n=5). To evaluate balance, center of gravity (COG) sway velocity and total sway distance of each group were assessed using the Wii balance board, and gait speed and stride length of each group were assessed using a gait analysis system. Results: Intra-group comparisons between pre- and post-intervention measures revealed that there were significant changes in all gait and balance variables such as stride length, gait velocity, COG sway velocity and COG sway distance in the HRSVR group (p<0.05). In the HRS group, there were significant changes in all variables except stride length (p<0.05). In addition, inter-group comparisons showed significant differences between the two groups in stride length, gait velocity and COG sway distance except COG sway velocity (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that horse riding simulator training combined with 3D virtual reality can be a new positive therapeutic approach for improving functional performance in children with cerebral palsy.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.141-149
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to verify the effects of virtual reality (VR) based anatomy education program on nursing students' learning presence, technology acceptance, learning motivation, and knowledge. Methods: A nonequivalent control group pre-test and post-test design was employed. The study participants included 113 nursing students (56 in the experimental group and 57 in the control group) from Ansan City. Data collection was conducted from June 1 through 23. Data were analyzed using χ²-test, Fisher's exact test, and t-test using SPSS 23.0 program. Results: The experimental group had a significant increase in learning presence, technology acceptance, and knowledge before and after the intervention compared to the control group. Conclusion: Virtual reality based anatomy education is an effective learner-centered educational program. From an educational perspective, VR anatomy education programs can improve anatomy knowledge by increasing students' acceptance of VR technology and increase their motivation to learn by increasing their sense of presence.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.531-540
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a 4-weeks intervention using a monitor-based virtual reality game intervention(VRI) on the cognitive function and activities of daily living of individuals with acute stroke. Methods: For this study, 19 individuals with acute stroke were recruited. To compare the effectiveness of the VRI and the computer based cognitive intervention(CBCI), Each of the two groups were provided different interventions a 30 minutes a day, 5 times per week for 4 weeks, and to measure the effects of the intervention, the TMT A&B, DST, RKMT and K-MBI were performed before and after interventions. Results: Both the VRI and the CBCI were found to have significantly improved the cognitive function and activities of daily living, and the difference in change compared between groups showed that the effectiveness of the VRI was significantly higher. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, the monitor-based VRI is anticipated to prove useful as an effective intervention for the cognitive function and activities of daily living of stroke patients. Furthermore, the utility of monitor-based VRI is likely to be high in clinical occupational therapy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.87-97
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• 2023

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of multimodal intervention through VR (virtual reality)-based immersion program on the cognitive function and brain activity of patients with mild cognitive impairment. METHODS: The subjects of the study were 10 people in the experimental group who applied a complex intervention that performed cognitive tasks using the movement of the upper extremities through the VR program, and 10 people in the control group who received traditional occupational therapy. After the study intervention was applied 5 times a week, 30 minutes a day for a total of 8 weeks, LOTCA-G(Lowenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment for Geriatric Population) and NIRSIT LITE were used to compare. RESULTS: Significant differences in cognitive function and brain activity were noted between the pre- test and post-test in the experimental group. Brain activity showed statistically significant differences in four channels of the working memory domain and one channel of the metacognitive domain (p < . 05). Comparative analysis of the difference between the two groups revealed statistically significant differences in cognitive function and brain activity. The brain activity showed statistically significant differences in three channels of the working memory domain and one channel of the metacognitive domain (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Through the results of this study, it was found that the complex intervention of performing cognitive tasks using upper extremity movements through the VR program had a positive effect on the cognitive function of patients with mild cognitive.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2022

In this study, the effect of VR exposure programs integrated with web-based cognitive restructuring education on reducing social anxiety was confirmed. The experimental group (n=12) received a 10~15 minute session of web-based cognitive intervention and a 20-minute session of virtual reality exposure therapy. The comparison group (n=15) received a 10~15 minute session of web-based speech education and a 20-minute session of virtual reality exposure therapy. After 4 weeks, the experimental group had an increase in positive interpretation bias, a decrease in negative interpretation bias, and a decreased level of social anxiety. These results suggest that the combination of self-help form of web-based cognitive intervention in the treatment of social anxiety disorder can improve the therapeutic effect of VRET.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2016

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to identify whether virtual reality-based exercise could improve on balance, gait and fall efficacy in patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods : Ten patients with Parkinson's disease were randomly divided into either an experimental or control group. The experimental subjects performed vertual reality-based exercise, whereas the control subjects performed conventional physical therapy for 4 weeks. The balance, gait and fall efficacy of all subjects were assessed by using the Measurement Training and Documentation (MTD) balance system, force platform system, Korean version of Berg Balance scale (K-BBS), 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and Korean version of Fall efficacy scale (K-FES) at pre training and post training. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to analyze change before and after intervention in intra-group. Mann Whitney U test was used to analyze changes of all variables in inter-groups. Results : Subjects in the experimental group showed significant improvements in difference of weight distribution, K-BBS scores, antero-posterior and medio-lateral sway length, ground reaction force (GRF), 6MWT, and step length following training. The changes of difference of weight distribution, K-BBS scores, AP Sway Length, GRF, 6MWT, step length and K-FES scores in the experimental group were significantly more than them of the control group. Conclusion : The result of this study suggest that virtual reality-based exercise training is an intervention to improve on balance, gait, and falls efficacy in patients with Parkinson's disease.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1413-1424
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• 2023

Virtual reality (VR) simulation in nursing education, especially in the teaching of VR simulations just prior to clinical practice, has the potential to enhance the effectiveness of clinical practice and better prepare nursing students for patient care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a preclinical VR simulation education program on the development of critical thinking, self-efficacy, problem-solving ability, and perceived clinical competency among undergraduate nursing students. The study was conducted between May and June 2021 using a pretest-posttest design with a control group. A total of 42 nursing students were recruited through convenience sampling from two separate classes. The intervention group participated in VR simulation education, while the control group engaged in lecture-based education, before beginning clinical practice. Assessments were conducted before preclinical education and after completing clinical practice using structured questionnaires. The data was analyzed using chi-square tests, independent t-tests, and ANCOVA. The findings indicated that the intervention group had a significantly higher score in perceived clinical competency compared to the control group (F = 5.25, p = 0.029) after controlling for pretest scores. However, there were no statistically significant differences in critical thinking, self-efficacy, or problem-solving abilities between the two groups. These findings suggest that preclinical VR simulation education is partially effective in preparing nursing students for their clinical practice, underscoring the need for a balanced educational approach that integrates VR with clinical practice to develop a full spectrum of nursing skills and knowledge.