Use of a low-cost adapted driving simulator in a virtual reality environment in people with paraplegia-type spinal cord injury. A series of cases

Abstract

Introduction: The ability to drive a motorized vehicle impacts the community participation of a person with congenital or acquired spinal cord injury. In this regard, driving simulators serve both for training and to determine suitability for driving a motorized vehicle. Objective: To describe the experience of using an adapted driving simulator in a virtual reality environment in people with paraplegia-type spinal cord injury of congenital or acquired origin. Method: 6 users with congenital or acquired paraplegia, between 18 and 24 years of age, with no history of visual pathology, with maximum resistance and com­plete sensitivity in upper limbs, were selected. All received 8 sessions of 40 minutes of use of the simulator. Baseline evaluation was applied, at the first and third month post-intervention on functional status, psychosocial impact of technological assistance (PIADS) and user satisfaction. Results: In PIADS, the score for Adaptability is constant with maximum score measured at 1 and 3 months. In the same period, the Competence score rises from 2.6 to 2.7, while Self-esteem rises from 2.1 to 2.2 points. In the satisfaction survey, the highest and constant rating stands out in the item “Recommendation of the simulator”. None of these changes was statistically significant. Conclusion: The changes observed in the scores, although not significant, are positive and consistent with the theoretical background regarding the evaluation of the experience of using an adapted driving simulator in a virtual reality environment.