Development of a Virtual Reality Tool for Respiratory Rehabilitation
Tutor / Supervisor
Kumru Cam, Hatice
Student
Sistach Bosch, Laura
Document type
Master thesis
Date
2022
rights
Open Access
Publisher
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
UPCommons
Abstract
Respiratory rehabilitation plays an important role in the management of respiratory complications after spinal cord injury. Abundant evidence supports the need for respiratory rehabilitation as a treatment for respiratory insufficiency and many other breathing conditions, having a huge impact on the physical, mental, social and laboral capacity of each patient. An exhaustive analysis of current systems for respiratory rehabilitation led us to detect some gaps and needs related to that, such as the old-fashionism of devices and, in particular, their low engagement strength. This project introduces a novel, patient-specific and easy-to-use tool for respiratory rehabilitation. We developed a custom respiratory training application, called RespiTrainer, consisting of five entertaining 2D games which are successfully combined with an innovative airflow sensing approach based on a microphone. A total of twelve healthy volunteers participated in the validation of the solution, which consisted of conducting a first conventional inspiratory and expiratory respiratory training, followed by a session with RespiTrainer. Volunteers responded to two questionnaires regarding their experience and the usability of both systems. Results showed a significant increase in the system usability score (SUS) when using our custom application. Participants felt slightly more tired after training with RespiTrainer than with the conventional system (Borg scale). All subjects felt the game was significantly much more entertaining and motivating than conventional training. Hence, we gathered preliminary evidence as to the practicability and feasibility of this solution to conduct respiratory training and improve patient satisfaction and further adherence.

Participating teacher
- Kumru Cam, Hatice