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Effects of Virtual Reality Meditation on Sleep and Delirium in ICU Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Computers, informatics, nursing : CIN
April 2, 2025
Soogyeong Kim et al. (2 authors)
Journal ArticleHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality meditation compared to standard care on sleep quality and delirium incidence in ICU patients.

Results Summary

The study found significantly improved subjective sleep quality in the intervention group compared to controls, but no significant differences in objective sleep measurements or delirium incidence.

Population

96 patients in an 11-bed surgical ICU at a South Korean university hospital.

Effective Dosage

20-minute virtual reality-based mindfulness and relaxation meditation before bedtime.

Duration

Two nights of ICU admission.

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (3)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
virtual reality-based mindfulness and relaxation meditation
increase
subjective sleep quality
patients admitted to the ICU
47.82 vs 39.75 (first night), 50.26 vs 43.65 (second night)
significantly improved
#1
virtual reality-based mindfulness and relaxation meditation
no change
total sleep time
patients admitted to the ICU
384.59 vs 358.19 minutes (first night), 319.94 vs 310.77 minutes (second night)
showed no significant differences
#2
virtual reality-based mindfulness and relaxation meditation
no change
delirium incidence
patients admitted to the ICU
12.2% vs 12.8%
was similar
#3
Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality meditation compared with standard care on sleep quality and delirium incidence in patients admitted to the ICU. We conducted a randomized controlled trial with 96 patients in an 11-bed surgical ICU at a South Korean university hospital. The control group received usual sleep care, whereas the intervention group received an additional 20-minute virtual reality-based mindfulness and relaxation meditation before bedtime. Using the Verran and Snyder-Halpern Sleep Scale, we found significantly improved subjective sleep quality in the intervention group compared with controls during both the first (47.82 vs 39.75, P = .015) and second nights (50.26 vs 43.65, P = .025) of ICU admission. However, objective sleep measurements using Fitbit devices showed no significant differences in total sleep time between groups for either the first (384.59 vs 358.19 minutes, P = .450) or second night (319.94 vs 310.77 minutes, P = .807). Delirium incidence was similar between groups (12.2% vs 12.8%, P = .938). These findings suggest the need for larger-scale studies with robust experimental designs to definitively establish the impact of virtual reality meditation on sleep quality and delirium in ICU patients.

Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy65/10
Quality75/10
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score2.50
Normalized Score0.61
Related Supplements
Effects of Virtual Reality Meditation on Sleep and Delirium ... | Panacea Index