Abstract
Virtual Reality (VR) has been increasingly adopted by residential aged care facilities (RACFs) for enriching residents’ experiences. RACFs are sensitive settings with complex sociocultural elements, thus aged care providers might experience challenges when introducing new technologies. This paper presents findings from a descriptive analysis of survey responses exploring the complexity brought about by adopting VR in RACFs. By understanding technology-in-use as socio-technical systems, this study draws on the work of Greenhalgh et al. to understand how the adoption of health-care technologies is influenced by complexity across seven domains: condition, technology, value proposition, adopter(s), organization(s), wider system, and adaptation over time. The paper details the design of a new survey instrument. Results indicate that it is challenging to sustain a VR program within RACFs due to the complexity arising from residents’ conditions and the technology itself, and the complicated challenges involving staff who facilitate VR activities and those who provide training.
Recommended Citation
Thach, Kong Saoane; Lederman, Reeva; and Waycott, Jenny, "Virtual Reality in Residential Aged Care: a study of adoption and system complexity." (2020). ACIS 2020 Proceedings. 56.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/acis2020/56