Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, several psychological support programs for health care workers have been implemented, especially group or individual counseling sessions delivered face-to-face or using phones and video conferencing platforms. However, there are significant barriers to the delivery of such psychological initiatives. In this context, digital interventions to improve health services and care outcomes are recommended for implementing and providing remote psychological support. Virtual reality can play a relevant role in providing psychological care to healthcare workers facing COVID-19. New commercial head-mounted display have made virtual reality accessible even to the mass audience, breaking down the barriers in the diffusion and use of this technology. Thanks to this fact, virtual reality can now be autonomously used by people and offered to provide psychological assistance remotely. Within this context, this randomized controlled study aims to investigate the efficacy of a virtual reality home-based program for diminishing stress and anxiety in a sample of Italian healthcare workers involved in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, several psychological support programs for health care workers have been implemented, especially group or individual counseling sessions delivered face-to-face or using phones and video conferencing platforms. However, there are significant barriers to the delivery of such psychological initiatives. In this context, digital interventions to improve health services and care outcomes are recommended for implementing and providing remote psychological support. Virtual reality can play a relevant role in providing psychological care to healthcare workers facing COVID-19. New commercial head-mounted display have made virtual reality accessible even to the mass audience, breaking down the barriers in the diffusion and use of this technology. Thanks to this fact, virtual reality can now be autonomously used by people and offered to provide psychological assistance remotely. Within this context, this randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to investigate the efficacy of a virtual reality home-based program for diminishing stress and anxiety in a sample of Italian healthcare workers involved in the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the objective is to compare the efficacy of this type of training with respect to the same program without virtual reality and a waiting list.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
30
Use of specifically developed VR contents to deliver psychoeducational content on stress and anxiety (i.e., "MIND-VR") and to train on relaxation techniques (i.e., "The Secret Garden").
The CR Group will undergo pre- and post-protocol tests without undergoing any treatment.
Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta
Milan, Italy
Change in score at the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory -Y2
A 20 item measure of the level of the state anxiety
Time frame: Baseline; immediately after the procedure/intervention; 3 months and 6 months follow-up
Change in score at the Perceived Stress Scale
A 10 item measure of the level of stress perceived in the last month
Time frame: Baseline; immediately after the procedure/intervention; 3 months and 6 months follow-up
Change in score at the Depression, Anxiety ans Stress Scale-21 items
A 21 item in 3 self-report scales which measures depression, anxiety and stress
Time frame: Baseline; immediately after the procedure/intervention; 3 months and 6 months follow-up
Change in score of knowledge on stress and anxiety
A 7 item measure at the ad hoc questionnaire to assess the knowledge of stress and anxiety
Time frame: Baseline; immediately after the procedure/intervention; 3 months and 6 months follow-up
Change in score at the EQ-5D-5L
A measure which defines the state of health and the perceived quality of life
Time frame: Baseline; immediately after the procedure/intervention; 3 months and 6 months follow-up
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