The Development of Balance Retraining: An online intervention for dizziness in adults aged 50 years and older
The Development of Balance Retraining: An online intervention for dizziness in adults aged 50 years and older
PURPOSE: This article outlines the rationale and development process for an online intervention based on vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT). The intervention aims to assist adults aged 50 years and older t o self-manage and reduce dizziness symptoms.
METHOD: The intervention was developed according to the person-based approach to digital intervention design focused on accommodating perspectives of target users. A prototype version of the intervention was provided to 18 adults (11 women, 7 men) aged 50 years and older with dizziness. These adults were invited to use the intervention over a 6-week period and, during this time, took part in a think-aloud session. This session sought to understand users' perceptions of how acceptable, engaging, and easy to use they found the online intervention.
RESULTS: Users were extremely positive regarding how easy to navigate, visually appealing, and informative they found the intervention. Think-aloud sessions provided valuable data for informing small amendments to further enhance acceptability of the intervention for target users.
CONCLUSIONS: Informed by these development-phase data, a finalized version of the intervention is now being investigated in a primary care-based randomized controlled trial. Results should provide an understanding of whether VRT can be effectively-especially, cost-effectively-delivered via an online intervention to adults aged 50 years and older.
Dizziness/rehabilitation, Female, Humans, Internet, Male, Middle Aged, Postural Balance, Qualitative Research, Self Care/methods, Sensation Disorders/rehabilitation
276-279
Essery, Rosie
6bf53e81-577f-4a95-ba45-11aa64d1ee53
Kirby, Sarah
9be57c1b-5ab7-4444-829e-d8e5dbe2370b
Geraghty, Adam W A
2c6549fe-9868-4806-b65a-21881c1930af
Andersson, Gerhard
1965d18a-9891-41f3-8149-ce6aebe2f5ff
Carlbring, Per
0b7ffcfa-66a5-435d-a64e-a3b6606adc71
Bronstein, Adolfo
cb85c34e-25c0-4103-a66c-28e33e983af8
Little, Paul
1bf2d1f7-200c-47a5-ab16-fe5a8756a777
Yardley, Lucy
64be42c4-511d-484d-abaa-f8813452a22e
1 September 2015
Essery, Rosie
6bf53e81-577f-4a95-ba45-11aa64d1ee53
Kirby, Sarah
9be57c1b-5ab7-4444-829e-d8e5dbe2370b
Geraghty, Adam W A
2c6549fe-9868-4806-b65a-21881c1930af
Andersson, Gerhard
1965d18a-9891-41f3-8149-ce6aebe2f5ff
Carlbring, Per
0b7ffcfa-66a5-435d-a64e-a3b6606adc71
Bronstein, Adolfo
cb85c34e-25c0-4103-a66c-28e33e983af8
Little, Paul
1bf2d1f7-200c-47a5-ab16-fe5a8756a777
Yardley, Lucy
64be42c4-511d-484d-abaa-f8813452a22e
Essery, Rosie, Kirby, Sarah, Geraghty, Adam W A, Andersson, Gerhard, Carlbring, Per, Bronstein, Adolfo, Little, Paul and Yardley, Lucy
(2015)
The Development of Balance Retraining: An online intervention for dizziness in adults aged 50 years and older.
American Journal of Audiology, 24 (3), .
(doi:10.1044/2015_AJA-14-0081).
Abstract
PURPOSE: This article outlines the rationale and development process for an online intervention based on vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT). The intervention aims to assist adults aged 50 years and older t o self-manage and reduce dizziness symptoms.
METHOD: The intervention was developed according to the person-based approach to digital intervention design focused on accommodating perspectives of target users. A prototype version of the intervention was provided to 18 adults (11 women, 7 men) aged 50 years and older with dizziness. These adults were invited to use the intervention over a 6-week period and, during this time, took part in a think-aloud session. This session sought to understand users' perceptions of how acceptable, engaging, and easy to use they found the online intervention.
RESULTS: Users were extremely positive regarding how easy to navigate, visually appealing, and informative they found the intervention. Think-aloud sessions provided valuable data for informing small amendments to further enhance acceptability of the intervention for target users.
CONCLUSIONS: Informed by these development-phase data, a finalized version of the intervention is now being investigated in a primary care-based randomized controlled trial. Results should provide an understanding of whether VRT can be effectively-especially, cost-effectively-delivered via an online intervention to adults aged 50 years and older.
This record has no associated files available for download.
More information
Published date: 1 September 2015
Keywords:
Dizziness/rehabilitation, Female, Humans, Internet, Male, Middle Aged, Postural Balance, Qualitative Research, Self Care/methods, Sensation Disorders/rehabilitation
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 509759
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/509759
ISSN: 1059-0889
PURE UUID: 95de383e-5af4-4625-9e50-832afc560b60
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 04 Mar 2026 17:46
Last modified: 05 Mar 2026 02:45
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Gerhard Andersson
Author:
Per Carlbring
Author:
Adolfo Bronstein
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics
