The Impact of 'Digital Strolling' on Depression and Quality of Life of People With Severe Mobility Impairment

The Impact of 'Digital Strolling' on Depression and Quality of Life of People With Severe Mobility Impairment

This intervention aims to develop and test the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a "Digital Strolling" intervention among people with SMI. The intervention group will receive a "Digital Strolling" intervention, which consists of 20 minutes "Digital strolling" for 10 days, with lessons occurring once a day. The control group will receive passive observation of virtual walking videos only.

This study is a two-arm, pilot randomized controlled trial, which will be used to evaluate and compare the effects of the "Digital strolling" intervention and the passive observing control group.

Twenty-four participants will be recruited from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Participants will be assigned to the "Digital Strolling" or control group. Participants in the "Digital Strolling" group will receive an arm swing virtual walking intervention, which consists of 20 minutes of virtual walking for 10 days and is conducted at home. Qualitative interviews with the "Digital Strolling" group will be conducted to understand their acceptability, usability, perceived strengths, and limitations of the intervention. While the one in the control group will receive 10 passive observing walking videos for 10 days.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Inability to walk 4 meters in less than 10 seconds without walking aids, or self-, proxy-, or medical-record-reported inability to walk independently across a small room (≈ 4 m), or dependence on a walking aid for more than 6 months
• Minimum 6 months post-injury or disease onset
• Able to communicate in Cantonese

Exclusion Criteria:

• Have severe cognitive impairment (a score < 6 on the Abbreviated Mental Test)
• Have severe mental illness (i.e., schizophrenia and major depression)
• Have acute medical illness or exacerbation requiring hospital or intensive treatment; planned major surgery or inpatient rehabilitation during the study period
• Currently engage in similar interventions