IDI Press Release – July 8, 1999

Amputees and Their Family Caregivers Endorse 
Virtual Conversations™ Method for Peer Support

"A program like this needs to be implemented ASAP. Questions arise continually through your recovery and this sure beats trying to find answers in a book."

"It puts you face to face with these people that have the same problems you do, or something similar. It’s very constructive for information sharing."

"You could take it anywhere…into a hospital room or to somebody’s house…and they could get questions answered that they don’t feel comfortable with enough to ask somebody yet."

"This [amputation] hits you hard and no information was out there for it…I don’t know what else you could produce to help more. You could feel so comfortable doing this."

July 8, 1999 – Bethesda, MD. Interactive Drama Inc. (IDI) has completed the first phase of research surrounding its series of voice-controlled interactive software programs designed to help recent amputees and their family caregivers gain practical knowledge and emotional support through virtual dialogues with experienced amputees and caregivers. The results of a rigorous scientific study of the method, conducted with 23 amputees and caregivers, are promising. The findings show wide acceptance of the method for peer support, significant learning gain from the interaction and a positive shift in users’ attitudes about amputees after the sessions.

Interactive Drama Inc. (IDI) received a federal research grant in June 1998 to use its Virtual Conversations™ model to allow recent amputees and their family caregivers to gain practical knowledge and emotional support through direct virtual dialogues with video peers. The process was evaluated to determine whether the target population would use and accept this peer interview method, and to what extent learning occurred. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded the Small Business Innovative Research grant.

Nine amputees and three amputee caregivers comprised the interview series, including three amputees whose stories have been widely publicized (Melanie Benn, the Reverend Ron Austin, and Ken Rutherford).

Subjects engaged the video peers in direct, give-and-take dialogue by asking questions related to a wide range of amputee concerns including how they cope with the psychological problems associated with limb loss ("How do you deal with phantom pain?", "How do you keep yourself from feeling isolated?", "Do you ever feel depressed?"); how they sustain their quality of life and social integrity ("Was it difficult for you to return to work?", "How did your friends react?", "How did you help others accept the amputation?"); and how they maintain their physical health under these circumstances ("What kind of exercise do you do?", How do you control your weight?"). The video characters could also answer questions about practical matters, such as what prosthetic devices they use, how they manage legal and financial matters, and what modifications they have made to their homes.

The study was conducted at four test sites in Northern Virginia and Maryland, including Inova Fairfax Hospital and Nascott Rehabilitation Services. Subjects interacted with the programs on a standard desktop or laptop computer. Participants in the study were older than 18 and had been an amputee or caregiver for less than two years. Data was collected from the test subjects with a series of pre- and post-use questionnaires designed to gauge shifts in attitudes, measure knowledge gain, and assess perceptions on a variety of amputee and caregiver issues. A post-session videotaped interview provided additional data.

Acceptance of the method was clearly established with this study. Through the virtual dialogues with real people who share their personal experiences, the field test participants became even more aware of the physical and emotional challenges amputees face; they were able to hear and see how others have met these challenges; and they learned that they are not alone. As one participant described it, "You felt like you were together with them."

The findings also proved the technological feasibility of the method to enhance knowledge, provide emotional support, and foster communication between amputees and family caregivers. Field test participants uniformly stated that they were unsure of what questions to ask and unaware of how their lives would change following their amputation. All 23 participants stated that "this method should be available to every amputee and caregiver," and most felt it should be available early in the recovery process.

For More Information Contact:

Marcia A. Zier
Interactive Drama Inc.
7900 Wisconsin Avenue Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814
Tel: 301.654.0676
FAX: 301.657.9174
Email: mzier@idrama.com