The Effect of Virtual Reality Goggles on Perceived Stress, Anxiety, and Fatigue in Nurses Working in Intensive Care Units

This study aims to evaluate the effect of a Virtual Reality (VR)-based relaxation intervention on perceived stress, anxiety, and fatigue levels among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses. The ICU environment is characterized by high-intensity workloads and emotional demands, which often lead to increased psychological and physical strain on nursing staff

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Key information

Conditions

Intensive Care Nurses

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Fırat university

Elâzığ, Center, 25240, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

• Being 18 years of age or older

Actively working in the intensive care unit of the relevant hospital for at least six months,
Working on an alternating shift basis (such as 24-hour work - 24-hour rest) during the research period,

Exclusion criteria

Having neurological disorders (epilepsy, migraine, vertigo, etc.) that may cause loss of balance or severe nausea during the virtual reality application,
Being required to wear prescription glasses due to the technical structure of the VR headset (physical compatibility of the device),
Having previously experienced any virtual reality (VR) application

Treatment and study plan

Virtual Reality Glasses

Behavioral

The group that made the virtual reality headset

Primary outcomes

The Perceived Stress Scale-10

Time frame: after the 3 consecutive days of intervention

Developed to assess the level of stress individuals have perceived in their lives over the past month. The scale, developed by Sheldon Cohen et al., consists of 10 items. It is a 5-point Likert scale, with items scored from "0=Never" to "4=Very often". Items 4, 5, 7, and 8 are reverse-scored. The total score obtainable from the scale ranges from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating a high level of perceived stress. The Turkish validity and reliability study of the scale was conducted by Ersin Eskin et al.
State Anxiety Scale

Time frame: after the 3 consecutive days of intervention

The State Anxiety Scale developed by Spielberger et al. aims to measure the level of anxiety experienced by individuals at a specific time and under specific conditions. Validity and reliability studies of the scale in Turkey were conducted by Öner and Le Comte (Öner and Le Comte, 1983). The SAS consists of 20 items and is designed to assess situational anxiety. The scale has a 4-point Likert-type response format, with scores ranging from 20 to 80; higher scores indicate higher levels of anxiety. The Cronbach alpha coefficient of the SAS in the original study was found to be 0.94 (Öner and Le Comte, 1983). In this study, the Cronbach alpha coefficient was found to be 0.93.
Fatigue Severity Scale

Time frame: after the 3 consecutive days of intervention

Developed to assess the impact and severity of fatigue on daily life in individuals. The scale was developed by Krupp et al. Consisting of 9 items, the scale uses a 7-point Likert scale, with items scored between 1 (strongly disagree) and 7 (strongly agree). The total score or item mean obtained from the scale indicates the severity of fatigue; higher scores indicate a higher level of fatigue. The Turkish validity and reliability study of the scale was conducted by Armutlu et al.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Firat University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2025
Primary completion: 2025
Study completion: 2025
First posted: Mar 13, 2026
Registry last updated: Mar 13, 2026

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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Completed