Virtual Reality Supported Mindfulness Meditation After Cardiovascular Surgery (VR-MIND-CVS)

Effects of Virtual Reality Supported Mindfulness Meditation on Psychophysiological Outcomes In Patients After Cardiovascular Surgery: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study

The early postoperative period following cardiovascular surgery is often associated with increased anxiety, stress, and physiological instability. Mindfulness-based interventions and virtual reality applications have emerged as potential supportive approaches to improve psychological well-being and promote recovery in clinical settings.

This study aims to examine the short-term effects of virtual reality-supported mindfulness meditation on psychological and physiological outcomes in patients who have completed the intensive care phase after cardiovascular surgery and have been transferred to the ward.

The study was designed as a quasi-experimental trial including 34 patients (intervention group n=17, control group n=17). In addition to standard postoperative care, the intervention group received a 15-minute virtual reality-supported mindfulness meditation session, while the control group received standard care only.

Psychological outcomes include state anxiety, perceived stress, and positive and negative affect. Physiological parameters include heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and body temperature. Data were collected at multiple time points using an ecological momentary assessment approach.

The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the understanding of the feasibility and short-term effects of virtual reality-supported mindfulness interventions in postoperative cardiovascular surgery patients.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Stress; Anxiety; Virtual Reality; Mindfulness; Postoperative Recovery; Cardiovascular Surgery
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Virtual Reality-Supported Mindfulness Meditation

Detailed Description

The early postoperative period following cardiovascular surgery is characterized by increased psychological distress and physiological instability. Patients frequently experience elevated levels of anxiety, perceived stress, and fluctuations in vital signs after being transferred from the intensive care unit to the ward. These factors may negatively affect recovery and overall well-being. Therefore, there is a growing interest in non-pharmacological interventions that can support both psychological and physiological stabilization in this critical period.

Mindfulness-based interventions have been widely used to reduce stress, improve emotional regulation, and enhance overall well-being. In recent years, virtual reality (VR) technologies have been introduced as a novel tool to deliver mindfulness practices through immersive and engaging environments. VR-supported mindfulness may provide a practical and effective approach, particularly for postoperative patients with limited mobility.

This study was designed as a quasi-experimental, non-randomized controlled trial to examine the short-term psychophysiological effects of VR-supported mindfulness meditation in patients after cardiovascular surgery. The study included a total of 34 patients who had completed the intensive care phase and were transferred to the ward (intervention group n=17, control group n=17).

In addition to standard postoperative care, the intervention group received a single 15-minute VR-supported mindful body scan meditation session. The control group received standard care only.

Data collection was conducted using an ecological momentary assessment approach at multiple time points. In the intervention group, measurements were performed before the intervention, immediately after the session (15th minute), at the 1st hour, and at the 3rd hour. In the control group, measurements were obtained at baseline, 1st hour, and 3rd hour.

Psychological outcomes included state anxiety, perceived stress, and positive and negative affect. Physiological parameters included heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and body temperature.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and short-term effects of VR-supported mindfulness meditation on psychological and physiological outcomes in patients during the early postoperative period following cardiovascular surgery.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 34
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Eskişehir, Turkey (Türkiye), 26000
    • Osmangazi University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients aged 18 to 65 years
• Patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting or heart valve repair surgery
• Patients monitored in the postoperative period in the clinical ward following the intensive care unit stay
• Hemodynamically stable patients within the first 12 to 48 hours after surgery, defined as heart rate 60-100 beats/min, blood pressure 90/60-140/90 mmHg, oxygen saturation ≥92%, and respiratory rate 12-20 breaths/min
• Patients who were conscious, able to communicate verbally, and able to understand and follow instructions
• Patients without visual or hearing impairment and physically able to use the virtual reality device
• Patients without a history of psychiatric diagnosis or treatment, based on self-report
• Patients who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who underwent major vascular surgery such as aortic aneurysm repair, aortic dissection repair, carotid endarterectomy, or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair
• Patients who developed serious postoperative complications requiring emergency intervention within the first 12 to 48 hours after surgery, such as acute renal failure, pulmonary embolism, or severe bleeding
• Patients using continuously high-dose beta-blockers or antiarrhythmic drugs due to uncontrolled hypertension or heart failure
• Patients with prior experience in mindfulness meditation
• Patients dependent on mechanical cardiac support devices or requiring continuous mechanical support such as an intra-aortic balloon pump
• Patients diagnosed with delirium or severe cognitive impairment
• Patients under isolation precautions for infection control

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Virtual Reality Mindfulness Group; Participants received a 15-minute virtual reality-supported mindfulness meditation session in addition to standard postoperative care.	Behavioral: Virtual Reality-Supported Mindfulness Meditation; A 15-minute guided mindfulness body scan meditation delivered through an immersive virtual reality environment in addition to standard postoperative care. The intervention is designed to support psychological relaxation and physiological stabilization in patients following cardiovascular surgery.; Other Names: Virtual Reality Mindfulness
No Intervention: Control Group; Participants received standard postoperative care without any additional intervention.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
State Anxiety	State anxiety measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-State)	Baseline, immediately after intervention, 1 hour, and 3 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Perceived Stress	Measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4, short form)	Baseline, 1 hour, and 3 hours
Positive and Negative Affect	Measured using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)	Baseline, immediately after intervention, 1 hour, and 3 hours
Heart Rate	Measured in beats per minute using a pulse oximeter	Baseline, immediately after intervention, 1 hour, and 3 hours
Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure	Measured in mmHg using a digital blood pressure monitor	Baseline, immediately after intervention, 1 hour, and 3 hours
Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂)	Measured as percentage (%) using a pulse oximeter	Baseline, immediately after intervention, 1 hour, and 3 hours
Respiratory Rate	Measured as breaths per minute by manual counting	Baseline, immediately after intervention, 1 hour, and 3 hours
Body Temperature	Measured in °C using a non-contact thermometer	Baseline, immediately after intervention, 1 hour, and 3 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Kutahya Health Sciences University
• Collaborators: The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey
• Investigators: Study Director: Melike Pehlivan, PhD, Kutahya Health Science University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 30, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): February 2, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 5, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 5, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): April 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 13, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 5, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: anxiety; mindfulness; virtual reality; postoperative care; cardiovascular surgery
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Anxiety Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: 324S805 (Other Grant/Funding Number: TUBITAK)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared due to privacy and confidentiality considerations.

Drug and device information, study documents

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