Explore the Effects of Virtual Reality Natural Environment of Older People

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Older People

Treatments: Behavioral: Experimental group: Virtual nature group; Behavioral: Experimental group: Actual nature group; Behavioral: Control group: Actual urban group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05803460

YM111067E

Details and patient eligibility

About

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual natural environment interventions on attention and mood among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan. It was hypothesized that virtual reality combined with natural environments will improve attention to varying degrees and produce mood and physiological health outcomes in the elderly. This will be assessed by comparing the effects of virtual natural interventions with actual urban and natural interventions. Participants will randomly assign to virtual nature, actual nature, or actual urban group for a single 20-minute environmental session.

Full description

This study will examine the effect of virtual natural environment intervention on attention and mood among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan. This consist 3 parallel groups and 2 assessment periods. Participants in communities will be randomly assigned to virtual nature, actual nature, or actual urban group for a single 20-minute environmental session. Data will be collected at baseline and after intervention. This study recruits older adults from community locations in Taipei, Taiwan. Since no similar studies have been conducted before, the medium effect size 0. 25 is assumed, using the F-test analysis of variance, α = 0.05, power = 0.80, calculated the required total of 120 participants. Data is collected using mood and restorative questionnaires, attention tests, and a digital heart variability device. Statistical analyses will be performed using generalized estimating equations.

Enrollment: 120 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Age 65 years and older
2. Cognitive function is normal (SPMSQ >8)(The SPMSQ test was performed before the intervention to screen the cognitive function of the subjects).
3. The subjects can communicate in Chinese or Taiwanese.

Exclusion criteria

1. Diseases affecting the results of the study, such as mental illness
2. Vision or hearing problems
3. Diseases transmitted by eyes or skin

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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120 participants in 3 patient groups

Actual nature group: Actual experience of nature environment

Experimental group

Description:

actual natural environment; participants in this group engage in 20 minutes of seated meditation in a natural park.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Experimental group: Actual nature group

Virtual nature group: virtual reality experience of nature environment

Experimental group

Description:

virtual reality experience of nature environment; Participants watched a 20-minute video of a virtual natural environment filmed by researchers.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Experimental group: Virtual nature group

Actual urban group: actual experience of city

Active Comparator group

Description:

actual experience of city; participants in the group engage in 20 minutes of seated meditation in a safe urban area.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Control group: Actual urban group