Abstract
BackgroundMindfulness-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.AimThe 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.MethodsFifty-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).ResultsResults 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.ConclusionFindings suggest that VR has the potential to provide healthcare professionals with an alternative or a supplement to conventional mindfulness practice.
Highlights
Work-related stress is prevalent among healthcare professionals, especially among those who report heavy workloads, long working hours and having to deal with uncooperative patients (Boran et al, 2012)
A manipulation check using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for continuous variables and chi-square test for categorical variables was conducted to assess for significant group differences prior to the start of the session
Participants reported a higher sense of being physically present in the virtual environment while engaged in the mindfulness practice if they did it using Virtual reality (VR) after practicing it with only audio, compared to having done it without the prior experience of audio
Summary
Work-related stress is prevalent among healthcare professionals, especially among those who report heavy workloads, long working hours and having to deal with uncooperative patients (Boran et al, 2012). Healthcare professionals are at risk of emotional exhaustion (Sturgess and Poulsen, 1983) and burnout (Khamisa et al, 2013; Deschamps et al, 2018). High levels of Virtual Reality for Stress Management Among Healthcare Professionals burnout among healthcare professionals could potentially lead to detrimental consequences for both the professionals and their patients. Mindfulness practice has been increasingly incorporated into clinical settings to prevent burnout and build resilience among healthcare workers (Joyce et al, 2018). Healthcare professionals, who experience time constraints, may benefit from short and effective interventions. Brief mindfulness practices have been found to effectively improve the wellbeing of healthcare providers (Gilmartin et al, 2017). 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
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