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Improving the Intensive Care Patient Experience With Virtual Reality-A Feasibility Study
Triton L Ong1,2, Matthew M Ruppert2,3, Maisha Akbar2,3
1Digital Worlds Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Critical Care Explorations
|July 23, 2020
Summary
Meditative virtual reality improved intensive care unit (ICU) patients' anxiety and depression, enhancing their hospital experience. This immersive technology was feasible and well-received by patients, though it did not significantly impact physiologic measures, pain, or sleep.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Digital Health
- Patient Experience
Background:
- Intensive care unit (ICU) patients face prolonged immobility, sedation, disrupted sleep, and pain.
- These factors increase the risk of ICU-acquired weakness and delirium-related mortality.
- Improving the ICU patient experience is crucial for recovery and well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of using meditative virtual reality (VR) in the ICU.
- To assess the efficacy of VR in improving the hospital experience for ICU patients.
- To determine VR's impact on anxiety, depression, pain, sleep, and physiological measures.
Main Methods:
- Prospective observational trial conducted in surgical and trauma ICUs.
- Fifty-nine nonintubated adult ICU patients without delirium were enrolled.
- Patients received daily sessions of meditative VR focused on calmness and relaxation for up to 7 days.
Main Results:
- Meditative VR intervention led to reduced levels of anxiety and depression in patients.
- Patients reported positive ratings of the virtual reality system.
- No significant effects of VR were observed on physiologic measures, pain levels, or sleep quality.
Conclusions:
- Meditative virtual reality technology is easily implemented in the ICU setting.
- The VR intervention was well-received by ICU patients.
- VR shows promise for improving psychological outcomes in ICU patients.
