Virtual Reality to Reduce Stress Among Nursing Students Before Final Exams
Virtual Reality-Based Relaxation to Reduce Stress Among Nursing Students Before Final Exams: A Randomized Controlled Trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a brief virtual reality (VR) relaxation session can reduce pre-exam stress levels among undergraduate nursing students enrolled in nursing courses.
The participant population includes male and female nursing students, aged 20-26 years, who are preparing to take their final practical exam.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Does a 10-minute, self-selected VR relaxation session significantly reduce stress levels immediately before a high-stakes clinical exam?
- Are certain types of virtual environments (e.g., beach, island, space, ocean) more effective than others in promoting relaxation?
Researchers will compare pre- and post-intervention stress scores to see if the VR experience results in a statistically significant reduction in perceived stress.
Participants will:
- Complete a brief pre-intervention stress survey (e.g., using a validated scale such as the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory).
- Explore several calming VR environments (e.g., tropical beaches, islands, deep ocean, space, savanna, and tourist destinations).
- Choose one preferred scene based on personal relaxation preference.
- Engage in a 10-minute immersive VR relaxation session.
- Complete a post-intervention stress survey to assess any changes.
Panoramica dello studio
Stato
Condizioni
Intervento / Trattamento
Descrizione dettagliata
High-stakes clinical assessments, such as final practical examinations, represent a critical component of nursing education but are frequently associated with elevated stress levels among students. Excessive stress during such assessments has been linked to impaired cognitive processing, reduced psychomotor performance, and diminished clinical decision-making, potentially affecting both educational outcomes and student well-being. Despite this, interventions aimed at mitigating acute pre-exam stress in authentic educational contexts remain limited.
Immersive virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising modality for emotional regulation due to its ability to create engaging, multisensory environments that facilitate attentional distraction and psychological detachment from stressors. Unlike traditional relaxation techniques, VR allows users to experience a heightened sense of presence, which may enhance emotional engagement and promote rapid stress reduction within short exposure periods. Prior studies in healthcare education and clinical populations suggest that even brief VR-based relaxation sessions can yield meaningful reductions in perceived stress and anxiety.
A key methodological consideration in stress-reduction interventions is individual variability in emotional response to relaxation stimuli. Allowing participants to self-select preferred virtual environments may enhance engagement, perceived control, and emotional resonance, thereby maximizing intervention effectiveness. This preference-based approach also reflects real-world feasibility and scalability in educational settings, where time and resources are often constrained.
The present study embeds a brief, self-selected VR relaxation intervention within a real examination context, immediately prior to a final practical assessment in a Critical Care Nursing course. By situating the intervention at a moment of peak stress, the study seeks to capture ecologically valid changes in perceived stress that are directly relevant to educational performance and student experience. In addition to evaluating stress reduction, the study examines feasibility and acceptability of VR as an adjunctive support strategy in nurse education, contributing to the growing body of methodological work addressing the complexity of demonstrating meaningful educational outcomes.
Tipo di studio
Iscrizione (Effettivo)
Fase
- Non applicabile
Contatti e Sedi
Luoghi di studio
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Riyadh, Arabia Saudita, 61922
- University of Bisha
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Criteri di partecipazione
Criteri di ammissibilità
Età idonea allo studio
- Adulto
- Adulto più anziano
Accetta volontari sani
Descrizione
Inclusion Criteria:
- Undergraduate nursing students enrolled in the Critical Care Nursing course at the University of Bisha.
- Both male and female students aged 20 and above.
- Scheduled to take the final practical exam during the study period.
- Able and willing to provide informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of severe motion sickness, vertigo, or epilepsy triggered by visual stimuli.
- Current diagnosis of severe psychiatric disorders (e.g., psychosis, major depressive disorder) that could interfere with participation.
- Visual, auditory, or cognitive impairments that prevent effective use of VR equipment.
Piano di studio
Come è strutturato lo studio?
Dettagli di progettazione
- Scopo principale: Terapia di supporto
- Assegnazione: Randomizzato
- Modello interventistico: Assegnazione parallela
- Mascheramento: Nessuno (etichetta aperta)
Armi e interventi
Gruppo di partecipanti / Arm |
Intervento / Trattamento |
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Sperimentale: VR Relaxation Intervention for Exam Stress Reduction in Nursing Students
In this arm, participants will explore a range of immersive virtual environments-including beaches, islands, deep ocean, savanna, space, and popular tourist destinations-using a VR headset.
After previewing the scenes, each participant will select the environment they find most relaxing and engage in a 10-minute guided VR session prior to their final practical exam in the Critical Care Nursing course.
The intervention is designed to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and support emotional well-being immediately before high-stakes assessment.
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This intervention is distinguished by allowing participants to preview and personally select from multiple immersive virtual environments tailored to promote relaxation, followed by a standardized 10-minute VR session conducted immediately before a high-stakes clinical exam, specifically targeting stress reduction in nursing students preparing for their final practical assessment in Critical Care Nursing.
Altri nomi:
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Nessun intervento: Control Group - No VR Intervention
Participants in this arm will not receive any virtual reality intervention prior to the final practical exam in the Critical Care Nursing course.
They will follow the standard pre-exam routine without exposure to VR or other structured relaxation methods.
Pre- and post-intervention surveys will still be administered to assess baseline and post-exam stress levels for comparison with the intervention group.
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Cosa sta misurando lo studio?
Misure di risultato primarie
Misura del risultato |
Misura Descrizione |
Lasso di tempo |
|---|---|---|
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Perceived Stress
Lasso di tempo: Immediately before and immediately after the 10-minute VR session on the day of the final practical exam.
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Perceived stress will be assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), a validated 10-item self-report questionnaire assessing the degree to which situations in one's life are appraised as stressful.
Total scores range from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress.
The outcome will be evaluated immediately before and immediately after the 10-minute virtual reality relaxation session on the day of the final practical exam.
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Immediately before and immediately after the 10-minute VR session on the day of the final practical exam.
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Misure di risultato secondarie
Misura del risultato |
Misura Descrizione |
Lasso di tempo |
|---|---|---|
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Test Anxiety Measured by the Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI)
Lasso di tempo: Immediately before and immediately after the VR session on the day of the final practical exam.
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Test anxiety will be measured using the Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI), a standardized self-report questionnaire assessing anxiety related to examinations.
Scores range from 20 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater test anxiety.
Measurement will occur immediately before and after the 10-minute VR relaxation session.
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Immediately before and immediately after the VR session on the day of the final practical exam.
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Participant Satisfaction with the VR Relaxation Intervention Measured by a Structured Questionnaire
Lasso di tempo: Immediately after completion of the VR session.
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Participant satisfaction with the VR relaxation intervention will be assessed using a brief structured self-administered questionnaire, evaluating comfort, enjoyment, immersion, and perceived usefulness.
Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (very dissatisfied) to 5 (very satisfied), with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction.
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Immediately after completion of the VR session.
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Altre misure di risultato
Misura del risultato |
Misura Descrizione |
Lasso di tempo |
|---|---|---|
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VR Tolerability Assessed by the Virtual Reality Sickness Questionnaire (VRSQ)
Lasso di tempo: Immediately after completion of the VR session.
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Tolerability of the VR intervention will be assessed using the Virtual Reality Sickness Questionnaire (VRSQ), a validated tool measuring symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, and discomfort during VR exposure.
Higher scores indicate greater cybersickness.
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Immediately after completion of the VR session.
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Collaboratori e investigatori
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Inizio studio (Effettivo)
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Date di iscrizione allo studio
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Primo inviato che soddisfa i criteri di controllo qualità
Primo Inserito (Effettivo)
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Ultimo aggiornamento pubblicato (Effettivo)
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Ultimo verificato
Maggiori informazioni
Termini relativi a questo studio
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Termini MeSH pertinenti aggiuntivi
Altri numeri di identificazione dello studio
- UBisha
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