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.
Behavioral: VR for psychoeducation and relaxation
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").
Other: Control (CR)
The CR Group will undergo pre- and post-protocol tests without undergoing any treatment.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age > 18, < 65;
- Having worked on the front line as a doctor or nurse during the COVID-19 emergency
(i.e., having assisted COVID-19 patients or having worked in departments dedicated to
COVID-19 patients);
- Normal or corrected to normal visual acuity;
- Normal or corrected to normal hearing ability.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Physical illness: cardiovascular issues, neurological illness, epilepsy;
- Pharmacotherapy with: psychotropic drugs, anti-hypertensive drugs, anti-epileptics;
Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta
Milan, Italy