Virtual Environment Therapy For The Improvement Of Sleep
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Virtual Environment Therapy For The Improvement Of Sleep In High Risk Postoperative Patients
IRAS ID
248910
Contact name
Marcela Vizcaychipi
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Chelsea & Westminster NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 18 days
Research summary
Poor sleep as a prominent complaint amongst patients discharged from intensive care units (ICU) and contributes to psychological and physical illness such as the post-intensive care syndrome. Whilst multiple interventions affecting sleep have been studied in ICU there has been inconsistency and no sound conclusions made from these studies.
Virtual reality (VR) has been used successfully in healthcare settings including as an adjuvant to analgesia, as a relaxation and therapeutic aid in cancer services and in rehabilitation. As such it is possible that VR may have a role in the ICU, however this has not been explored.It is suggested that exposure to nature can reduce stress and improve mood. This is particularly true in individual who spend prolonged periods in the absence of nature such submariners, polar explorers but also applied to hospital patients. As such VR has the potential to deliver the therapeutic role of nature as a holistic form of care.
This study will assess the effect on sleep and acceptability of environment-themed VR delivered in an ICU setting, termed ‘virtual environment therapy’ (VET). Patients undergoing pre-planned surgery with an accompanying admission to ICU for aftercare will be approached for voluntary participation. Patients enrolled in the study with be randomised to receive VET: one hour period of a selected environmental video (the participant’s choice) with accompanying sound or control. They will have one night of VET and one night with no VET during their admission. The quality of sleep will be assessed using measures of body activity and questionnaires asking participants about the quality of their sleep.
Overall we aim to assess the acceptability of VET in an ICU setting and to assess the effect it will have on sleep quality and amount for participants who are being admitted to ICU for aftercare following a planned surgery.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0546
Date of REC Opinion
2 Dec 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion