Investigating a multi-session virtual reality relaxation intervention for mental health staff: protocol for a feasibility and acceptability study
Mental Health and Digital Technologies
ISSN: 2976-8756
Article publication date: 13 February 2024
Issue publication date: 29 May 2024
Abstract
Purpose
Clinical staff working in mental health services experience high levels of work-related stress, burnout and poor well-being. Increased levels of stress, burnout, depression and anxiety and poorer mental well-being among health-care workers are associated with more sick days, absenteeism, lower work satisfaction, increased staff turnover and reduced quality of patient care. Virtual reality (VR) relaxation is a technique whereby experiences of pleasant and calming environments are accessed through a head-mounted display to promote relaxation. The purpose of this paper is to describe the design of a study that assesses the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a multi-session VR relaxation intervention amongst mental health professionals, to improve their relaxation levels and mental well-being.
Design/methodology/approach
The study follows a pre–post-test design. Mental health staff will be recruited for five weeks of VR relaxation. The authors will measure the feasibility and acceptability of the VR relaxation intervention as primary outcomes, alongside secondary outcomes evaluating the benefits of VR relaxation for mental well-being.
Findings
The study aims to recruit 20–25 health-care professionals working in both inpatient and specialist community mental health settings.
Originality/value
Research indicates the potential of VR relaxation as a low-intensity intervention to promote relaxation and reduce stress in the workplace. If VR relaxation is shown to be feasible and acceptable, when delivered across multiple sessions, there would be scope for large-scale work to investigate its effectiveness as an approach to enable health-care professionals to de-stress, relax and optimise their mental well-being. In turn, this may consequently reduce turnover and improve stress-related sick leave across health-care services.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Trial Status
Recruitment has terminated. Data analysis is ongoing.
Trial registration: Clinical trials.gov NCT05601908. Registered 1 November 2022.
Declarations
Funding – Funding was provided from a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology research budget provided by King’s College London. Head-mounted displays and VR software were provided by Magic Horizons, Germany. Magic Horizons had no involvement in the evaluation at any stage.
Ethics approval and consent to participate – Ethical approval was obtained from Research Ethics Management Application System (REMAS) at King’s College London (reference LRM-22/23–15023). All participants provided informed written consent for study participation.
Consent for publication – Consent for publication was sought from all participants.
Availability of data and material – The data sets used during the current study may be available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Authors’ contributions – The study was conceived by SR and LV. The study was designed by SR, LV, RM, NS and VP. RM drafted the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Conflicts of Interest – No interests to declare.
Citation
Martland, R., Valmaggia, L., Paleri, V., Steer, N. and Riches, S. (2024), "Investigating a multi-session virtual reality relaxation intervention for mental health staff: protocol for a feasibility and acceptability study", Mental Health and Digital Technologies, Vol. 1 No. 1, pp. 73-86. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHDT-11-2023-0001
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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