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. 2021 Jun 3:12:640341.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.640341. eCollection 2021.

Exploring the Use of Virtual Reality for the Delivery and Practice of Stress-Management Exercises

Desmond Jun Hong Soh  1 , Crystal Huiyi Ong  1 , Qianqian Fan  2 , Denise Ju Ling Seah  2 , Stacey Lee Henderson  2 , Lohsnah Jeevanandam  1 , Kinjal Doshi  2
Affiliations

Exploring the Use of Virtual Reality for the Delivery and Practice of Stress-Management Exercises

Desmond Jun Hong Soh et al. Front Psychol. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Background: Mindfulness-based interventions may benefit healthcare professionals with burnout symptoms. Virtual reality (VR) may reduce initial difficulty of engaging in mindfulness exercises and increase participants' engagement through immersion and presence.

Aim: The aim was to investigate how VR affects participants' experience of engagement with mindfulness practice, and its impact on quality of practice and negative mood states.

Methods: Fifty-one healthcare professionals were randomized to receive either a visualization or non-visualization mindfulness practice, to compare the quality of practice through the use of audio only vs. with a virtual reality interface. Selected self-reported measures were collected during the session (immersion, quality and difficulty of practice, mood states and likelihood for future practice).

Results: Results showed that order instead of type of modality administered made a difference in quality of mindfulness practice. A greater sense of presence was reported with VR if administered after audio (F = 4.810, p = 0.033, Partial η2 = 0.093). Further, participants described difficulty practicing with audio if administered after VR (F = 4.136, p = 0.048, Partial η2 = 0.081). Additionally, lower mood disturbance was reported with VR if administered after audio (F = 8.116, p = 0.006, Partial η2 = 0.147). Qualitative responses echoed a preference for VR to engage better, in addition to improved mood states after practice.

Conclusion: Findings suggest that VR has the potential to provide healthcare professionals with an alternative or a supplement to conventional mindfulness practice.

Keywords: burnout; healthcare professionals; mindfulness; mood; virtual reality.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Study consort diagram.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Screenshot of VR environment used.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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