V-Mart, a Virtual Reality Grocery Store: A Focus Group Study of a Promising Intervention for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Objective This study examined the potential usability, relevance, and acceptability of V-Mart, a virtual reality grocery store as an assessment and intervention tool for veterans with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Design Six focus groups were conducted over a two-year period to assess perceptions from three key stakeholders: therapists, veterans with neither mTBI nor PTSD, and veterans with mTBI with or without PTSD (mTBI/PTSD). The System Usability Scale (SUS) was applied as an objective measure of usability. Transcripts from the six focus groups were subjected to thematic analyses using the constant, comparative method. Results The focus groups indicated that V-Mart was perceived as highly usable, relevant, and acceptable. Early technical problems were resolved satisfactorily. Therapists indicated that they would use an application such as V-Mart if it were available. The veterans with neither mTBI nor PTSD felt it was realistic and likely to be useful, as did the veterans with mTBI/PTSD. SUS mean follow-up scores ranged from 71.4-86.0, surpassing the threshold for acceptable usability in health care settings. Conclusions Focus group and SUS data indicate that the V-Mart has great potential as an assessment tool and intervention for veterans with mTBI/PTSD. Further development and clinical trials are warranted. Charles E. Levy, MD, Center of Innovation on Disability and Rehabilitation, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, 1601 SW Archer Rd, Gainesville, FL 32608, 352-376-1611, ext. 4922, 352-271-4540, Charles.levy@va.gov Acknowledgments This material is based upon work supported by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program/Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Research and Development and Health Services Research and Development. Principal Investigator: W81XWH-08-2-0194, Design of Effective Therapeutic Interventions for Mild TBI/PTSD using Interactive Virtual World Environments, CDMRP/DoD 9.15-08-10.14.09, $142,189 Principal Investigator: Development of Virtual Humans For PTSD and mTBI: Rehabilitation Outcomes Research Center, 2010-2011, $43,527 Principal Investigator: 1I01RX000339-01A3, Virtual Environments for Therapeutic Solutions (VETS) mTBI/PTSD Phase II, VA RR&D, 4.1.13-3.30.17, $824,835 We would like to acknowledge Virginia Hessels, who contributed invaluable assistance in manuscript preparation Copyright © 2018 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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