Authors: (including presenting author): :
LEUNG NTA(1), SO SH(1), CHAN YLD(1), CHAN YHJ(1), CHAN KY(1), HUNG CW(1)
Affiliation: :
(1)Occupational Therapy Department, Kowloon Hospital
Keyword 3: :
occupational therapy
Introduction: :
Cognitive and functional impairments are common among individuals with schizophrenia, often leading to psychiatric admissions and extended hospital stays. Such hospitalizations can limit community contact, reduce adaptability, and contribute to functional decline, ultimately hindering social participation. Occupational Therapy (OT) plays a vital role in inpatient recovery by helping individuals preserve skills and improve motivation for self-care and community living, thereby promoting successful reintegration into society, leading to a meaningful life and reducing readmission risk. Traditional Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) training in inpatient settings typically relies on psychoeducation, which may not sufficiently support skill acquisition due to limited experiential learning. Virtual Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (VIADL) Program addresses this gap by providing computerized non-failure-based skills practice. It allows repeated simulation of real-world tasks in a safe environment to enhance both IADL abilities and cognitive function in inpatients with schizophrenia. This project aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the program in improving IADL skills and cognitive function among inpatients with schizophrenia.
Objectives: :
1. To improve the IADL skills in inpatients with schizophrenia and borderline community living skills. 2. To improve participants' cognitive function
Methodology: :
This single-group pretest-posttest program evaluation targeted inpatients with schizophrenia and borderline community living skills whose functional level were rated below independent on the Chinese version of St. Louis Inventory of Community Living Skills (SLICLS-C). The VIADL program comprises seven modules focused on essential IADL tasks, including 1) meal ordering, 2) market shopping, 3) online shopping, 4) MTR (Mass Transit Railway) taking, 5) map navigation, 6) cooking, and 7) use of Automated Teller Machines (ATM). After a screening interview, participants select three modules to practice intensively. Training consisted of three one-hour sessions weekly for a total of 12 sessions. Outcomes were assessed pre- and post-intervention using the SLICLS-C for functional ability and the Brief Matrics Consensus Cognitive Battery (Brief MCCB) for cognitive function. A post-training survey captured qualitative feedback on user experience and perceived benefits.
Result & Outcome: :
Twelve participants (3 females, 9 males; aged 24–47) from a psychiatric rehabilitation ward in Kowloon Hospital participated. Statistically significant improvements were observed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test in both functional (p=.002) and cognitive domains (p=.023). SLICLS-C scores rose from pre-test (M = 59.08, SD = 8.40) to post-test (M = 71.08, SD = 10.54), all clients improved, reaching the “semi-independent” level, and are suitable to be discharged to Half-way House. Brief MCCB T-scores increased from pre-test (M=30.58, SD=9.96) to post-test (M=35.58, SD=13.32), indicating improved processing speed. Also, 92% reported greater confidence in community reintegration. In conclusion, the VIADL program demonstrates that integrating technology-based interventions into OT can effectively enhance daily living and cognitive skills among inpatients with schizophrenia. Structured virtual training facilitated significant improvements in both IADL abilities and cognitive function. Moreover, participants reported enhanced confidence in community reintegration, reflecting the program’s positive influence on motivation and readiness for discharge to rehabilitation settings. These outcomes highlight the critical role that innovative approaches can play in OT by supporting functional recovery and smoother transitions back into the community. These findings advocate for the wider adoption of the VIADL program to enhance rehabilitation outcomes across diverse clinical settings.
