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Volume 15
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10.3390/nursrep15020049
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Community-Dwelling Filipino Older Adults’ Experiences with Virtual Coach for Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA): A Phenomenology

by
Michael Joseph S. Dino
1,2,3,4,*,
Kenneth W. Dion
1,4,
Peter M. Abadir
5,
Chakra Budhathoki
1,
Patrick Tracy Balbin
2,
Ma. Kristina G. Malacas
2,6,
Rommel P. Hernandez
2,6,
Jacquelyn Joyce G. Nicolas
2,
Jhal Barcial-Espinosa
2,
Cheryl R. Dennison Himmelfarb
1,4,
Patricia M. Davidson
1,4,7 and
Ladda Thiamwong
3,4
1
School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
2
Research Development and Innovation Center, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City 1440, Philippines
3
College of Nursing, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA
4
Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society in Nursing, Indianapolis, IN 46220, USA
5
School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
6
The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas, España Blvd, Sampaloc, Manila 1008, Philippines
7
Division of the Vice-Chancellor and President, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Nurs. Rep. 2025, 15(2), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep15020049
Submission received: 19 September 2024 / Revised: 21 January 2025 / Accepted: 29 January 2025 / Published: 31 January 2025
Versions Notes

Abstract

Background: Physical inactivity among older adults persists as one of the global burdens. Older adults’ physical activity (PA) levels decline simultaneously with age, causing health problems and poor outcomes. Immersive interventions, such as mixed reality virtual coaches, are gaining the potential to provide innovative solutions to prevent physical inactivity among older adults. However, an in-depth understanding of older adults’ experience in using virtual-coach-driven physical exercise programs remains unexplored. Purpose: This study explored the experiences of community-dwelling older adults in using a virtual-coach-driven physical exercise program. Design: This study applied a phenomenological design using the qualitative approach to determine the lived experiences of community-dwelling older adults about the mother project, the “Move and Groove for Older Adults Program” (Hataw at Sigla para kay Lolo at Lola), a virtual-coach-driven physical exercise program using MR. A semi-structured interview guide was crafted consisting of three domains (acceptability, barriers, and facilitators), each with two open-ended questions. MAXQDA was used to thematically analyze the qualitative data. Results: Nine key informants shared their experiences with the virtual coach-driven physical exercise program using mixed reality. Four themes were identified describing their experiences with the program: (1) “Looking around”: Exploring MR technology, (2) “Looking after”: Engaging with MR exercise peers, (3) “Looking at”: Examining issues with MR technology devices, and (4) “Looking Ahead”: Envisioning the future of MR exercises. Conclusions: The findings of this study introduced new concepts and challenged old notions regarding older adults’ technological engagement. The virtual-coach-driven physical exercise program enabled the participants to explore the novel methodology, enhance peer relationships, examine potential issues, and envision a future of possibilities using the technology. These outcomes are pertinent for progressing studies, scholars, and technology developers in incorporating MR into gerontechnology for wellness and fullness of life in the aging population. The mother project of this study was retrospectively registered [ID NCT06136468].
Keywords: mixed reality; virtual human; physical exercise; older adults; nursing mixed reality; virtual human; physical exercise; older adults; nursing

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Dino, M.J.S.; Dion, K.W.; Abadir, P.M.; Budhathoki, C.; Balbin, P.T.; Malacas, M.K.G.; Hernandez, R.P.; Nicolas, J.J.G.; Barcial-Espinosa, J.; Himmelfarb, C.R.D.; et al. Community-Dwelling Filipino Older Adults’ Experiences with Virtual Coach for Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA): A Phenomenology. Nurs. Rep. 2025, 15, 49. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep15020049

AMA Style

Dino MJS, Dion KW, Abadir PM, Budhathoki C, Balbin PT, Malacas MKG, Hernandez RP, Nicolas JJG, Barcial-Espinosa J, Himmelfarb CRD, et al. Community-Dwelling Filipino Older Adults’ Experiences with Virtual Coach for Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA): A Phenomenology. Nursing Reports. 2025; 15(2):49. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep15020049

Chicago/Turabian Style

Dino, Michael Joseph S., Kenneth W. Dion, Peter M. Abadir, Chakra Budhathoki, Patrick Tracy Balbin, Ma. Kristina G. Malacas, Rommel P. Hernandez, Jacquelyn Joyce G. Nicolas, Jhal Barcial-Espinosa, Cheryl R. Dennison Himmelfarb, and et al. 2025. "Community-Dwelling Filipino Older Adults’ Experiences with Virtual Coach for Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA): A Phenomenology" Nursing Reports 15, no. 2: 49. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep15020049

APA Style

Dino, M. J. S., Dion, K. W., Abadir, P. M., Budhathoki, C., Balbin, P. T., Malacas, M. K. G., Hernandez, R. P., Nicolas, J. J. G., Barcial-Espinosa, J., Himmelfarb, C. R. D., Davidson, P. M., & Thiamwong, L. (2025). Community-Dwelling Filipino Older Adults’ Experiences with Virtual Coach for Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA): A Phenomenology. Nursing Reports, 15(2), 49. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep15020049

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