Participants
psychiatric
RECRUITMENT, RECRUITMENT
We aimed to recruit 20 participants (15 OAs and 5 HPs) at each site, with a total sample size of 60 participants. To determine sample sizes, we considered studies recommending 3 to 5 [The inclusion criteria for OAs were (1) age of ≥60 years, (2) being community dwelling, and (3) being physically able to independently stand for at least 2 minutes. The exclusion criteria for OAs were (1) sensory impairments interfering with the use of the system, (2) a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of <20, (3) terminal illnesses, and (4) previous or current major psychiatric illnesses. HPs were required to be actively involved in conducting physical or cognitive therapy sessions with older people as part of their workplace role and be registered and accredited members of the health care community.The recruitment methods in Switzerland included contacting older participants from previous studies of the Motor Control and Learning Group at ETH who had consented to be listed as potential future participants and using ongoing research collaborations with the VAMED rehabilitation center in Dussnang (Switzerland) to recruit HPs. In Cyprus and Italy, participants were recruited via convenience sampling—in Italy of patients usually attending the Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi clinics. Potentially eligible OAs and HPs were contacted and informed comprehensively about the study by phone or by handing out or sending flyers, as well as through detailed information sheets.Recruitment began in January 2022 and continued throughout the trial period, lasting from early February 2022 to late March 2022.