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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05803460

Explore the Effects of Virtual Reality Natural Environment of Older People

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Older People

Age range

65 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Taipei, Taiwan, Taiwan

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

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

Exclusion criteria

  • Diseases affecting the results of the study, such as mental illness
  • Vision or hearing problems
  • Diseases transmitted by eyes or skin

Treatment and study plan

Experimental group: Actual nature group

Behavioral

Participants will go to the park and sit still for 20 minutes.The natural environment site is the same as the video scenes used in the virtual natural environment intervention, located in a natural park in Taipei City.

Experimental group: Virtual nature group

Behavioral

Participants will experience the virtual reality natural environment by the researcher for 20 minutes.The 360-degree panoramic natural environment scenes were from a natural park in Taipei City.Considering the elderly user experience, this study utilized standalone immersive virtual reality headset. Once wearing the goggles in a comfortable seated position, participants engaged in a 20-minute virtual reality environment experience.

Control group: Actual urban group

Behavioral

Participants will sit still for 20 minutes in a city environment.The urban environment is selected within the community's urban landscape.

Primary outcomes

  1. Digit span test

    Time frame: Baseline and 20 minutes

    To measure attention.

  2. Trail Making Test

    Time frame: Baseline and 20 minutes

    To measure attention.

  3. The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule

    Time frame: Baseline and 20 minutes

    To measure emotion.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Blood pressure, heart rate and heart rate variability

    Time frame: Baseline and 20 minutes

    measure the participant's sitting blood pressure, heartbeat and heart rate variability.

Other outcomes

  1. Perceived Restorativeness Scale

    Time frame: Baseline and 20 minutes

    To measure sleep status in the past month.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Explore the Effects of Virtual Reality Based Natural Environment Intervention Programs on Improving Attention, Emotion, and Cognitive Function of Older People

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Apr 7, 2023
Registry last updated
Dec 15, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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