Co-creating and delivering personalized, nature-based VR experiences: Proof-of-concept study with four U.S. adults living with severe COPD
Olivia McAnirlin, Matthew H.E.M. Browning, Tracy Fasolino, K. Okamoto, Iryna Sharaievska, Jason Thrift, J. Pope
Abstract
Severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) makes visiting outdoor spaces difficult. This proof-of-concept study tapped into personally meaningful outdoor memories to co-create and deliver personalized nature-based VR experiences with four adults living in upstate South Carolina, U.S. Our study objective was to evaluate participant responses to the co-creation process and VR experience. We identified familiar landscapes with each participant, captured 360-degree videos of these locations, and worked with them to select the videos, audio, and sequences to use. Each participant co-created and then experienced their own unique 5–7 min 360-degree video in a VR headset. Participant responses were measured with questionnaires on psychological well-being, perceived restoration, cybersickness, and presence, along with physiological data on heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, and blood oxygen levels. Our findings generally supported that the co-creation process and personalized, nature-based VR experience was safe for our participants and could support their psychological well-being. More broadly, this study supports additional research with these activities to promote well-being among people living with chronic disease.