The Use of Virtual Reality to Reduce Stress among Night-Shift Anesthesiologists: Study Protocol for a Cross-Over Trial
Background: Because of the lack of anesthesia workforce, anesthesiologists are forced to work overtime and more night shifts; this can disturb their biological rhythm and cause severe stress and depression, potentially leading to negative and even devastating outcomes for both themselves and patients. Virtual reality (VR), which is a new method to reduce stress and pain for patients, has been widely used in biomedical fields. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential effectiveness of VR technology in reducing stress among night-shift anesthesiologists.
Methods: In this randomized controlled, crossover, single-center clinical trial, a total of 30 anesthesiologists will be enrolled and randomized in a 1:1 allocation to either the VR immersion group (intervention group) or the routine night-shift group (control group) with a washout of 1 week. Anesthesiologists in the intervention group will undergo VR immersion twice, while anesthesiologists in the control group will not watch VR videos during the night shift. The primary outcome will be the difference in the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) score between the two groups. Secondary outcomes will include the Chinese Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS), perceived stress scores (Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)) and Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) scores; levels of satisfaction among the participants; incidence of arrhythmia; and incidence of chest tightness, headache, and palpitations.
Discussion: It is unknown whether the use of VR technology during the night shift can reduce stress among anesthesiologists. With the widespread use of VR technology, a positive result in this trial could spur hospitals to apply VR technology to reduce stress among night-shift doctors in every department and provide a relatively relaxed working environment.
Trial registration: ChiCTR2000031025
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This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
Additional file 1: Informed Consent Form
Additional file 3: Funding Documentation
Additional file 4: SPIRIT checklist.
Additional file 5: SPIRIT figure.
Posted 11 Feb, 2021
On 08 Feb, 2021
Received 07 Feb, 2021
On 03 Feb, 2021
Invitations sent on 02 Feb, 2021
On 02 Feb, 2021
Received 02 Feb, 2021
On 01 Feb, 2021
On 01 Feb, 2021
Posted 13 Jan, 2021
On 13 Jan, 2021
Received 08 Jan, 2021
On 03 Jan, 2021
Received 15 Dec, 2020
On 05 Dec, 2020
On 03 Dec, 2020
Invitations sent on 03 Dec, 2020
On 03 Dec, 2020
On 15 Nov, 2020
On 15 Nov, 2020
On 12 Nov, 2020
On 05 Aug, 2020
The Use of Virtual Reality to Reduce Stress among Night-Shift Anesthesiologists: Study Protocol for a Cross-Over Trial
Posted 11 Feb, 2021
On 08 Feb, 2021
Received 07 Feb, 2021
On 03 Feb, 2021
Invitations sent on 02 Feb, 2021
On 02 Feb, 2021
Received 02 Feb, 2021
On 01 Feb, 2021
On 01 Feb, 2021
Posted 13 Jan, 2021
On 13 Jan, 2021
Received 08 Jan, 2021
On 03 Jan, 2021
Received 15 Dec, 2020
On 05 Dec, 2020
On 03 Dec, 2020
Invitations sent on 03 Dec, 2020
On 03 Dec, 2020
On 15 Nov, 2020
On 15 Nov, 2020
On 12 Nov, 2020
On 05 Aug, 2020
Background: Because of the lack of anesthesia workforce, anesthesiologists are forced to work overtime and more night shifts; this can disturb their biological rhythm and cause severe stress and depression, potentially leading to negative and even devastating outcomes for both themselves and patients. Virtual reality (VR), which is a new method to reduce stress and pain for patients, has been widely used in biomedical fields. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential effectiveness of VR technology in reducing stress among night-shift anesthesiologists.
Methods: In this randomized controlled, crossover, single-center clinical trial, a total of 30 anesthesiologists will be enrolled and randomized in a 1:1 allocation to either the VR immersion group (intervention group) or the routine night-shift group (control group) with a washout of 1 week. Anesthesiologists in the intervention group will undergo VR immersion twice, while anesthesiologists in the control group will not watch VR videos during the night shift. The primary outcome will be the difference in the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) score between the two groups. Secondary outcomes will include the Chinese Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS), perceived stress scores (Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)) and Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) scores; levels of satisfaction among the participants; incidence of arrhythmia; and incidence of chest tightness, headache, and palpitations.
Discussion: It is unknown whether the use of VR technology during the night shift can reduce stress among anesthesiologists. With the widespread use of VR technology, a positive result in this trial could spur hospitals to apply VR technology to reduce stress among night-shift doctors in every department and provide a relatively relaxed working environment.
Trial registration: ChiCTR2000031025
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3