The Role of Nurses in Video-Based Communication to Reduce Loneliness in Intensive Care Unit Patients (VBC-ICU)

The Effect of Video-Based Communication on Reducing Loneliness in Intensive Care Unit Patients: A Quasi-Experimental Study

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of video-based communication in reducing loneliness among intensive care unit (ICU) patients at Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital in Bandung, Indonesia. ICU patients often experience psychological distress, particularly loneliness, due to restricted family visits and physical isolation.

A quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test control group is used, involving 36 participants who are randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The intervention group receives structured video-based communication with family members for three consecutive days, with each session lasting between 5 to 20 minutes. Nurses facilitate the intervention by ensuring patient safety, providing emotional support, and assisting with the communication process. The control group receives standard ICU care without the communication intervention.

Loneliness levels are assessed using the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS) before and after the intervention.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Loneliness; Loneliness During COVID-19
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Video-based Communication

Detailed Description

This study investigates the effectiveness of video-based communication in reducing loneliness among patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Loneliness is a common psychosocial issue in ICU patients, caused by physical isolation, limited visitation policies, and minimal social interaction. It is associated with increased stress, potential suppression of immune response, and extended hospitalization. The intervention provides a practical approach by enabling virtual interaction with family members, allowing emotional connection despite physical distance.

The study uses a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test control group. A total of 36 patients are recruited from Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital in Bandung and randomly assigned to either an intervention or control group. The intervention group receives structured video-based communication using WhatsApp for three consecutive days, with each session lasting between 5 and 20 minutes. The control group receives standard ICU care without the additional communication support. The De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS) is used to assess emotional and social loneliness levels before and after the intervention.

Nurses act as primary facilitators in the intervention. Their responsibilities include ensuring clinical stability, setting up the communication devices, emotionally supporting patients during the sessions, monitoring patient responses, documenting the process, and coordinating communication with family members.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 36
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Indonesia
  • Jawa Barat
    • Bandung, Jawa Barat, Indonesia, 40161
      • dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU)
2. Patients aged over 18 years with a minimum of 72 hours of care in the ICU
3. Patients who are able to understand and communicate in the Indonesian language

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with medical conditions such as decreased consciousness, total blindness, or severe neurological disorders
2. Patients with a history of psychiatric disorders

Drop Out:

1. Patients who are discharged from the ICU of Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital during the study period will be considered drop-outs
2. Patients whose health deteriorates to the extent that they are unable to continue participation in the study
3. Patients who die during the study period
4. Patients who are transferred from the ICU to general inpatient wards

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention Group - Video-based Communication; Participants in this group received structured video-based communication with their family members using WhatsApp. Each session lasted 5-20 minutes and was conducted once daily for three consecutive days. The communication was facilitated by a nurse and included positive messages, emotional support, and discussion of future plans. The aim was to reduce emotional and social loneliness in ICU patients.	Behavioral: Video-based Communication; Participants received structured video-based communication sessions with their family members using the WhatsApp platform. The intervention was delivered once daily for three consecutive days, with each session lasting between 5 and 20 minutes. Communication was guided to include emotional support, positive conversations, and future-oriented discussion. The sessions were facilitated by nurses who ensured clinical stability, technical setup, and emotional readiness of the patient. This intervention aimed to reduce emotional and social loneliness among ICU patients and was integrated into standard intensive care routines without disrupting medical care.
No Intervention: Control Group - Standard ICU Care; Participants in this group received standard ICU care without any video-based communication intervention. They continued with routine treatment and monitoring in the ICU setting for the duration of the study period. This group was used as a comparison to assess the impact of video-based communication on loneliness levels.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Loneliness Score (De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale)	This outcome measures the change in loneliness among ICU patients before and after the intervention, using the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS). The scale assesses both emotional and social loneliness with 11 items, validated in Indonesian. Higher scores indicate greater loneliness. The score is recorded at baseline (pre-intervention) and after 3 days of intervention (post-test). The difference in mean scores is used to assess effectiveness.	Baseline (Day 1) to Post-Intervention (Day 3)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universitas Padjadjaran
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Cecep Eli Kosasih, S.Kp., MNS., Ph.D, Universitas Padjadjaran; Study Director: Ristina Mirwanti, S.Kep., Ners., M.Kep., Universitas Padjadjaran

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 24, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 24, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): January 24, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 29, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 8, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): July 18, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 18, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 8, 2025
• Last Verified: July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Intensive Care Unit; Loneliness; Video-based Communication
• Other Study ID Numbers: NURS-202506.01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No