Culturally Sensitive Treatment of Caregiver Anxiety With Virtual Reality: A Prospective, Pragmatic, Randomized Study

Pediatric inpatient caregivers often experience significant anxiety. Although improving caregiver anxiety is critical for improving patient outcomes, inpatient interventions targeting patients' families are rarely implemented. This study assessed the effectiveness of a language-concordant, virtual reality (VR)-guided meditation on inpatient caregiver anxiety. Using a prospective, pragmatic, randomized study, the primary aim assessed caregiver anxiety using the Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety (VAS-A). Secondary aims explored state and trait anxiety using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), differences in anxiety reduction between English- and Spanish-speaking participants, and satisfaction. With 200 participants included in the final analysis, VAS-A scores in the VR group were lower compared to the standard of care (SOC) group (p = 0.0005), with a greater reduction for Spanish-speaking participants (p = 0.005). After controlling for baseline trait anxiety, the STAI found a greater reduction in state anxiety in the VR group (p ≤ 0.0001). VR-guided meditation effectively reduced caregiver anxiety in pediatric inpatient settings. VR's immersive and versatile nature offers diverse therapeutic options to improve caregiver and patient health, including marginalized populations with previously limited interventions.