Analyzing characteristics of immersive virtual reality experiences for chronic pain management: Assessing the interrater reliability of the Virtual Reality Activity Analysis for Pain instrument

Abstract

Introduction:

Immersive virtual reality is increasingly used to treat chronic pain. Commercial virtual reality experiences offer a way to integrate immersive virtual reality into clinical practice, but selecting appropriate virtual reality experiences for specific patient goals is challenging. We developed the Virtual Reality Activity Analysis for Pain to help occupational therapy professionals assess virtual reality experience physical, sensory, mental, and psychosocial components relevant to chronic pain treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the interrater reliability of the virtual reality activity analysis for pain instrument.

Method:

Raters assessed 10 virtual reality experiences using the virtual reality activity analysis for pain instrument, which includes 30 items across physical, sensory, mental, and psychosocial categories. We conducted 40 measurements per item and compared them using inter-class correlation coefficients.

Results:

The virtual reality activity analysis for pain demonstrated excellent interrater reliability (inter-class correlation coefficients = 0.91), with four out of five sections and 55% of items showing good to excellent reliability. Only 16% of items exhibited poor reliability.

Conclusion:

The virtual reality activity analysis for pain is a reliable tool for analyzing virtual reality experience characteristics, with potential to standardize reviews of commercially available virtual reality experiences, aiding occupational therapy professionals to implement immersive virtual reality into chronic pain management.