Effects of improvement on selective attention: Developing appropriate somatosensory video game interventions for institutional-dwelling elderly with disabilities

The purpose of this study was to develop appropriate somatosensory video game interventions on enhancing selective attention of institutional-dwelling elderly with disabilities. Fifty-eight participants aged 65~92 were recruited and divided into four groups, 4-week and 8-week experimental and two control groups, for evaluating the one-month carry-forward effects by Vienna Test System. Fourteen participants in experimental groups voluntarily completed 30-minute Xbox games 3 times per week for a total of 4 and 8 weeks. The results showed that: (1) except sum of incorrect reaction, a majority of participants whose selective attentions had significant improvements in immediate effect, carry-forward effects and overall effect in 8-week group (p <.05); (2) 5 out of 8 items in selective attention tests had significant immediate and carry-forward effects and one overall effect in 4-week intervention (p <.05) and (3) The results conclude that using somatosensory video games is a viable approach to promote selective attention of institutional-dwelling elderly with disabilities. The present study also found that this approach could motivate elderly to participate with a variety of sound, music and sensory stimulations and is a viable and valuable direction to promote quality of life in long-term care system.