Not yet recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Deep Relaxation Using Virtual Reality Intervention Before Surgery for Healthcare Professionals Working in the Operating Room

This research wants to find out if using virtual reality (VR) or simply a quiet, calm room can help healthcare staff working in operating theatres feel less stressed before they start surgery. Many healthcare professionals can feel anxious, and this study hopes to find new ways to help them relax. Researchers will compare VR, which creates a calming computer-generated world, with just sitting in a peaceful environment. They'll measure stress using both feelings reported by the staff and physical signs like heart rate. The goal is to see which method works best and if it's a good way to improve wellbeing in a busy hospital setting.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc

Enrolment target

Start

01 Jun 2026

Estimated completion

01 Jul 2026

Stress Stress and Burnout Stress Biomarkers

What is this study about?

Imagine you're a doctor or nurse about to go into an operating theatre for a big surgery. It can be a very demanding and stressful job. This study is designed to explore ways to help these healthcare professionals feel more relaxed and less stressed *before* they even step into the operating room. Stress can affect how people perform and how they feel at work, so finding effective ways to manage it is really important.

The researchers are comparing two different approaches to help reduce stress. One is a 'low stimulus environment,' which simply means a calm, quiet place with very little to distract you. Think of it like a peaceful waiting room. The other is a 'virtual reality (VR) intervention.' This involves wearing a special headset that shows you a computer-generated, calming scene, perhaps like a tranquil beach or a quiet forest, while also listening to relaxing sounds. The VR system they are looking at is also "adaptive," meaning it might respond to how relaxed you are, perhaps by changing the scenery or sounds to help you calm down more.

They want to find out which of these methods, if any, is better at helping staff relax. They will measure stress in a few ways: by asking staff how stressed they feel, and by looking at physical signs like their heart rate. The study also hopes to work out if the VR option is not only good at reducing stress but also a cost-effective solution for hospitals to use. The ultimate aim is to find practical ways to support the wellbeing of our dedicated operating room staff.

Key takeaways

Aims to reduce stress in operating room staff before surgery.
Compares virtual reality (VR) relaxation with a quiet, calm room.
Measures stress through personal feelings and heart rate.
Hopes to find new ways to improve staff wellbeing.
Participation involves short 10-minute sessions.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for healthcare professionals who work in the operating theatre and are over 18 years old. This includes a wide range of roles like nurses (circulatory, scrub, and anaesthesia), anaesthetists, surgeons, residents, and medical students, or anyone training for these positions. All participants must volunteer and agree to take part in the study.

However, there are certain reasons why someone might not be able to join. For example, if you have a history of epilepsy, severe claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces) or nyctophobia (fear of darkness), or if wearing a VR headset has previously caused you headaches, dizziness, nausea, or other discomfort, you wouldn't be able to participate. Also, if you have certain ear conditions like impaired hearing, otosclerosis, or ear infections, or eye conditions like glaucoma or active eye infections, you would be excluded.

Other reasons for not being able to join include if you've been diagnosed with chronic insomnia, have a latex allergy (as VR goggles might contain latex), or have certain heart conditions like arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), very slow or very fast heart rates, or if you're taking medication that affects your heart rhythm or blood pressure. Finally, if for any other reason you feel you can't wear a VR headset or noise-cancelling headphones, you would also not be suitable for this study.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you a healthcare professional working in an operating room (e.g., nurse, doctor)?
Are you aged 18 or older?
Do you have a history of epilepsy, severe claustrophobia, or problems with VR headsets?
Do you have certain serious ear, eye or heart conditions, or chronic insomnia?
Are you able to comfortably wear a VR headset and noise-cancelling headphones?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, you would undergo a short intervention before you enter the operating room for your work. This would involve either sitting in a quiet, low-stimulus room or using a virtual reality (VR) headset and headphones for about 10 minutes. This will happen at least 15 minutes before your shift in the operating room begins. Throughout this 10-minute period, researchers will be monitoring your heart rate using a device. You will also be asked to rate your stress levels before and after the intervention using a simple scale. There are no medications involved in this study. The total duration of your active participation, including setup and assessments, would be quite short, likely under an hour each time you take part, as it's designed to fit into your existing workday before you enter theatre.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study may offer the potential benefit of feeling more relaxed and less stressed before your work in the operating theatre. You might find that either the quiet environment or the virtual reality experience helps to calm you down. While using VR, some people can occasionally experience temporary mild dizziness, eye strain, or nausea, but the researchers will be checking for this, and you can stop at any time. There's also a small chance of discomfort from wearing the headset or headphones. You are free to withdraw from the study at any point, for any reason, without it affecting your care or your job.

Locations (2)

Rhigshospitalet
Verified postcode
Copenhagen, Denmark
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
Verified postcode
Hamburg, Germany

Common questions

What is virtual reality (VR) in this study?

VR involves wearing a headset that shows you a computer-generated, relaxing scene, perhaps with calming sounds, to help you feel more peaceful.

What is a 'low stimulus environment'?

This is simply a quiet, calm room with minimal distractions, designed to help you relax naturally.

How long does the relaxation session last?

Each session, whether VR or the quiet room, will last approximately 10 minutes.

Will this affect my work in the operating room?

The session is designed to happen before you enter the operating room, aiming to help you feel more relaxed and focused for your work.

What kind of healthcare professionals can join?

Any healthcare professional working in the operating room, such as nurses, anaesthetists, surgeons, residents, and medical students, who are over 18 years old, may be able to join, depending on other criteria.

How to find out more

Sophie Q Vermeulen, MD

s.q.vermeulen@amsterdamumc.nl 0031639012875 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.