Promotion of Emotional Well-being in Hospitalized Cancer Patients by Virtual Reality

Experimental: Intervention

The entire intervention is composed by four 30 minutes sessions along 1 week. Its focus is on the promotion of well-being by the use of two virtual environments ("Emotional Parks" and "Walk through Nature"). These environments allow participants to involve in different exercises (working with self statements, videos, images, slow breathing, focus on the present exercises) with the purpose of increase positive emotional states.

Conductual: Virtual Reality Intervention

Participants receive two sessions oriented to joy and two focused on relax. In the first 2 sessions patients can choose the environment ("Emotional Parks" or "Walk through Nature") and in the following ones participants visit the alternate environments.

Sin intervención: Control

Participants receive the medical treatment deliver by the hospital. They fulfill several questionnaires at two moments (pre and post 1 week after). After this, they have the possibility to receive the psychological intervention.

The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) (Zigmond & Snaith, 1983; adapted version of Tejero, Guimerá, Farré & Peri, 1986)

Fordyce Happiness Scale (Fordyce, 1988).

Visual Analog Scale: Mood.

Subjective mood change after each intervention session.

Visual Analog Scale: Emotional State. Change from pre to post session.

Assessment of general mood, joy, sadness, anxiety, relax and vigor (7-point Likert scale)

Visual Analog Scale: Physical Discomfort. Change from pre to post session.

Presence of pain, fatigue and physical discomfort (11-point Likert scale)

Visual Analog Scale: Satisfaction with the Session Scale.

Level of pleasantness and perceived usefulness of each session (11-point Likert scale)

Satisfaction with Intervention Scale (adapted version of Borkovec and Nau's, 1972)

Assesses satisfaction, recommendation, utility and discomfort (11-point Likert scale)

The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) (Broadbent et al., 2006)

This instrument has 9 items aimed to evaluate the cognitive and emotional representation of the illness (consequences, timeline, personal control, treatment control, identity, concern, emotional response, illness coherence and causes).

Personal meaning of the illness (ad-hoc).

Patient has 6 alternatives of illness meaning (Loss, threat, challenge, blame-others, blame-self and opportunity). In addition to these alternatives, participant can add any other personal meaning.

Visual Analog Scale: Optimism

11-point scale (not at all - completely)

Visual Analog Scale: Life satisfaction

7-point scale (no satisfaction - completely satisfied)