Virtual Reality Sickness Questionnaire: Psychometrics in Stroke Patients

Investigation of the Psychometric Properties of the Virtual Reality Sickness Questionnaire in Stroke Patients

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of virtual reality on physiological factors (heart rate, blood pressure) in stroke patients and the psychometric properties of the Virtual Reality Sickness Questionnaire in assessing Motion Sickness resulting from virtual reality use.

Despite the proven advantages of virtual reality approximately 30% of users report nausea and up to 40% experience eye strain as a result of prolonged exposure to virtual environments and simulators. These problems are referred to as motion sickness (MS) a side effect of virtual reality use.

The Motion Sickness Assessment Questionnaire (MSAQ) and the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ), which evaluates the symptoms under four titles (gastrointestinal, central, peripheral and fatigue), are used in the literature to evaluate this effect. However, these questionnaires may not be sufficient to assess the MS symptoms that develop after virtual reality (VR) applications. Because MS symptoms occur differently in VR and simulation systems. For this reason, the Virtual Reality Sickness Questionnaire (VRSQ) was developed by Kim and his colleagues to evaluate the symptoms that occur after virtual reality. The Turkish validity and reliability of the VRSQ, which consists of 9 questions, was also conducted by Cetin and his friends.

The aim of this study to investigate how virtual reality affects physiological factors (heart rate, blood pressure) in stroke patients and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Virtual Reality Sickness Questionnaire in assessing VR-induced motion sickness.

Inclusion criteria for individuals with stroke:

1. Stroke diagnosis,
2. A minimum score of 24 on the Standardised Mini Mental Test (SMMT), 2.18-80 years old,
3. showing symptoms of MS with a minimum score of 10 on the Virtual Reality Sickness Questionnaire
4. Titmus test result of 3552 arc/s
5. Not having neglect syndrome

Exclusion criteria:

1. Not volunteering for the study,
2. Presence of a diagnosis of neurological disease other than stroke,
3. Presence of a history of previous stroke,
4. Complete or partial loss of vision in one eye,
5. Previous use of Virtual Reality
6. Having diseases affecting the vestibular system such as Vertigo, Benign Paroxysmal Vertigo, Meniere's

Inclusion criteria for Healthy Individuals:

1. A minimum score of 24 on the Standardised Mini Mental Test (SMMT), 2.18-80 years old, 3. showing symptoms of MS with a minimum score of 10 on the Virtual Reality Sickness Questionnaire 4. Titmus test result of 3552 arc/s

Exclusion criteria:

1. Not volunteering for the study,
2. Presence of a diagnosis of neurological disease,
3. Complete or partial loss of vision in one eye,
4. Previous use of Virtual Reality
5. Having diseases affecting the vestibular system such as Vertigo, Benign Paroxysmal Vertigo, Meniere's