Effects of Virtual Reality on Anxiety, Stress, and Work Performance in ICU Nurses

NCT07097519 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2025-292
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 13
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses often experience high levels of stress and anxiety due to the emotional demands of caring for critically ill patients. These psychological burdens can negatively affect their job performance and the quality of care they provide. Recent studies suggest that immersive virtual reality (IVR) technology may help reduce stress and improve professional performance among healthcare workers. However, no study to date has specifically evaluated the effects of IVR on ICU nurses' anxiety, stress, and job performance. This study aims to evaluate whether an IVR application can reduce anxiety and stress levels while enhancing the job performance of ICU nurses. By introducing a clinical intervention based on virtual reality, the research seeks to explore its potential as a practical tool in improving nurses' well-being and work effectiveness in high-pressure environments. The findings will contribute to understanding the clinical applicability of IVR as a stress-reduction and performance-enhancement method in intensive care settings.

Conditions

Stress; Performance; Immersive Virtual Reality; Intensive Care (ICU); Nurse

Keywords

Job Performance; Immersive Virtual Reality; Intensive Care Nursing

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Job Performance Measured by the Individual Work Performance Scale

  Job performance will be assessed using the Turkish version of the Individual Work Performance Scale adapted by Köroğlu Kaba \& Öztürk (2021). The 14-item scale includes 3 subscales: Task Performance (5 items), Contextual Performance (6 items), and Counterproductive Work Behavior (3 items, reverse-coded). Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (Rarely) to 5 (Always). Higher scores indicate better performance. The internal consistency of the total scale is reported as 0.80.

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Change in Anxiety Level

  Before and after each VR session, from enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks

• Change in Anxiety Levels Measured by the Spielberger State Anxiety Scale

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks

Study Arms (1)

Immersive Virtual Reality Intervention for ICU Nurses

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm are registered nurses working in an intensive care unit who receive an immersive virtual reality (IVR) intervention. The intervention involves the use of a VR exergame (Beat Saber) through Oculus Quest 2 headsets. Nurses engage in VR sessions for a minimum of 10 minutes per day across 8-16 clinical workdays over an 8-week period. The intervention is designed to reduce anxiety and stress levels and enhance job performance. Outcome measures include anxiety, stress, individual job performance, and satisfaction ratings collected pre- and post-intervention.

Other: Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR)

Interventions

Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) OTHER

This intervention involves the use of a high-end immersive virtual reality (IVR) application through the Oculus Quest 2 headset. Nurses participate in a rhythm-based exergame, Beat Saber, for at least 10 minutes per session, during 8-16 clinical shifts over an 8-week period. The game engages users in physical movement to music, requiring whole-body coordination and providing visual, auditory, and haptic feedback. The intervention aims to reduce stress and anxiety and enhance job performance among ICU nurses by providing an immersive, engaging, and therapeutic experience within the clinical environment.

Immersive Virtual Reality Intervention for ICU Nurses

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Willing to voluntarily participate in the study
• Currently employed as a nurse in the Anesthesia and Reanimation Intensive Care Unit
• Has been working in the unit for at least 3 months
• Able and available to use the virtual reality (VR) application for a minimum of 10 minutes per day
• Willing to use the VR application on 8 to 16 clinical workdays during the 8-week intervention period

You may not qualify if:

• Any condition that prevents communication, completing questionnaires, or participating in measurements
• Physical limitations that prevent movement (e.g., amputation, joint restriction)
• Health problems that interfere with VR use, including chronic pain, hearing or vision loss, migraine, vertigo, nausea, epilepsy, claustrophobia, head injuries, or psychiatric treatment

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa: lead

Study Sites (1)

Oncology Hospital

Ankara, Yenimahalle, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: This study does not involve masking. It is an open-label, single-group intervention, and both participants and researchers are aware of the intervention being administered. Therefore, no additional parties are masked.
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Phd, Nurse Educator

Model Details: This study uses a single-group, prospective, interventional, pre-test-post-test design. All participants receive the same immersive virtual reality (IVR) intervention without a comparison or control group. The intervention consists of regular use of a commercially available VR exergame (Beat Saber) for a minimum of 10 minutes per session over an 8-week period. Measurements are taken at three time points (baseline, mid-intervention, and post-intervention) using validated scales for anxiety, stress, job performance, and satisfaction. This model allows assessment of within-subject changes over time in response to the VR-based stress management and performance-enhancement intervention.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 25, 2025
• First Posted: July 31, 2025
• Study Start: March 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: May 31, 2025
• Study Completion: May 31, 2025
• Last Updated: July 31, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)