Effect of an intensive care unit virtual reality intervention on relatives´ mental health distress: a multicenter, randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Relatives of intensive care unit (ICU) patients often endure symptoms of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression during and after treatment of a family member's hospitalization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ICU-specific virtual reality (ICU-VR) on mental health among relatives, 6 months after patient's ICU discharge.

METHODS: This multicenter, randomized controlled trial included relatives of ICU patients who were assigned to receive either standard care or standard care plus ICU-VR, by randomizing the ICU patients. Relatives were assessed up to 6 months after patient discharge from the ICU for post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, quality of life, relatives' understanding of ICU care, and appreciation of ICU-VR.

RESULTS: One hundred relatives of 81 patients and 89 relatives of 80 patients were randomized to the intervention and control groups, respectively. Relatives' median age was 48 years and 53% were female. Compared to the control group, relatives who received ICU-VR did not experience a decrease in post-traumatic stress (23% vs. 18%; p = 0.99), anxiety (22% vs. 30%; p = 0.35), or depression (17% vs. 23%; p = 0.44). There was no significant difference between median mental quality of life (50.2 vs. 52.6; p = 0.51), physical quality of life (56.1 vs. 54.3; p = 0.16), or understanding of ICU care between groups. Patients in the intervention group highly endorsed ICU-VR (90%), favoring it over traditional informational brochures and the majority (82%) stated it improved their understanding of ICU treatment.

CONCLUSION: ICU-VR did not significantly improve mental health distress symptoms among relatives 6-months after a patient's discharge. Relatives highly endorsed ICU-VR and self-reported that it improved their understanding of ICU treatment.