MIND-VR: Virtual Reality for COVID-19 Operators' Psychological Support

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, several psychological support programs for health care workers have been implemented, especially group or individual counseling sessions delivered face-to-face or using phones and video conferencing platforms. However, there are significant barriers to the delivery of such psychological initiatives. In this context, digital interventions to improve health services and care outcomes are recommended for implementing and providing remote psychological support.

Virtual reality can play a relevant role in providing psychological care to healthcare workers facing COVID-19. New commercial head-mounted display have made virtual reality accessible even to the mass audience, breaking down the barriers in the diffusion and use of this technology. Thanks to this fact, virtual reality can now be autonomously used by people and offered to provide psychological assistance remotely.

Within this context, this randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to investigate the efficacy of a virtual reality home-based program for diminishing stress and anxiety in a sample of Italian healthcare workers involved in the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the objective is to compare the efficacy of this type of training with respect to the same program without virtual reality and a waiting list.

Inclusion criteria

• Age > 18, < 65;
• Having worked on the front line as a doctor or nurse during the COVID-19 emergency (i.e., having assisted COVID-19 patients or having worked in departments dedicated to COVID-19 patients);
• Normal or corrected to normal visual acuity;
• Normal or corrected to normal hearing ability.

Exclusion criteria

• Physical illness: cardiovascular issues, neurological illness, epilepsy;
• Pharmacotherapy with: psychotropic drugs, anti-hypertensive drugs, anti-epileptics;