ICU sedation, delirium & recovery
Effect of an intensive care unit virtual reality intervention on relatives´ mental health distress: a multicenter, randomized controlled trial
Authors' conclusion
ICU-VR did not significantly improve mental health distress symptoms among relatives 6-months after a patient's discharge.
Study context
- Population
- Relatives of intensive care unit (ICU) patientsrelatives of randomised patients
- Participants
- 100 vs 89
- Comparison
- Standard care plus ICU-VR vs standard care
- ICU-VRn = 100
- Standard caren = 89reference
- Primary endpoint
- Mental health of relatives (post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression)
- Follow-up
- 6 months after patient's ICU discharge
Methodological detailsmulticentre, randomisation by ICU patient
- Multicentre
- Randomisation by ICU patient
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Relatives' mental health distress symptoms · up to 6 months
Post-traumatic stress, ICU-VR vs Standard care
23% vs. 18%
p = 0.99
Anxiety, ICU-VR vs Standard care
22% vs. 30%
p = 0.35
Depression, ICU-VR vs Standard care
17% vs. 23%
p = 0.44
Further findings
Quality of life and understanding of ICU care
- Median mental quality of life, ICU-VR vs Standard care
- 50.2 vs. 52.6; p = 0.51
- Median physical quality of life, ICU-VR vs Standard care
- 56.1 vs. 54.3; p = 0.16
- Understanding of ICU care: no significant difference between groups
Appreciation of ICU-VR (ICU-VR group)
- Highly endorsed ICU-VR, favoring it over informational brochures
- 90%
- Stated it improved understanding of ICU treatment
- 82%
Original publication
Effect of an intensive care unit virtual reality intervention on relatives´ mental health distress: a multicenter, randomized controlled trial. Crit Care. Published 5 February 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →