Novel Virtual Reality Intervention for Stress Reduction Among Patients With or at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: Mixed Methods Pilot Study
Abstract BackgroundVirtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising, low-risk strategy to manage many forms of psychological stress and may be a modality to improve cardiovascular health. Recent scientific statements on the mind-heart-body connection call for better adherence t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2025-08-01
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| Series: | JMIR Cardio |
| Online Access: | https://cardio.jmir.org/2025/1/e66557 |
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| author | Katherine E Makaroff Christopher Van Vincent Grospe Lynae Edmunds Marcella A Calfon-Press Karol E Watson Tamara Horwich |
| author_facet | Katherine E Makaroff Christopher Van Vincent Grospe Lynae Edmunds Marcella A Calfon-Press Karol E Watson Tamara Horwich |
| author_sort | Katherine E Makaroff |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Abstract
BackgroundVirtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising, low-risk strategy to manage many forms of psychological stress and may be a modality to improve cardiovascular health. Recent scientific statements on the mind-heart-body connection call for better adherence to psychological screening and adoption of more holistic “behavioral cardiology” interventions that improve the overall health of patients with or at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to assess safety and preliminarily explore how a VR experience can aid in stress reduction among patients with or at risk for CVD.
MethodsA convergent mixed methods approach was used for this single-arm prospective pilot study. In total, 20 patients were recruited from the University of California Los Angeles adult cardiology clinics and cardiac rehabilitation. Surveys and physiologic parameters were collected before, during, and after a 30-minute VR experience aimed at relaxation. The primary outcome was the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S) scale. They participated in a 90-minute visit, during which they completed surveys, including the STAI-S scale, before and after a 30-minute VR experience. Physiological parameters were also collected before, during, and after the experience. Visits concluded with semistructured interviews analyzed with inductive thematic analysis to add depth and nuance to our analysis.
ResultsSTAI-S scale scores after the VR experience were significantly decreased from baseline (median 31, IQR 28-38 vs median 24, IQR-29.25; PPPPP
ConclusionsThis sample of patients with CVD or risk of CVD had above-average stress, consistent with epidemiological data; the statistically and clinically significant decrease in subjective perception of stress partially converged with physiologic data. Overall, the VR intervention was a safe and feasible stress reduction method. Future research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of this immersive therapy in reducing cardiovascular risk profiles. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d09d2290064048acbb7caef53b7fce24 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2561-1011 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Cardio |
| spelling | doaj-art-d09d2290064048acbb7caef53b7fce242025-08-20T04:00:51ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Cardio2561-10112025-08-019e66557e6655710.2196/66557Novel Virtual Reality Intervention for Stress Reduction Among Patients With or at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: Mixed Methods Pilot StudyKatherine E Makaroffhttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-9354-5656Christopher Vanhttp://orcid.org/0009-0001-0311-8798Vincent Grospehttp://orcid.org/0009-0001-1465-2742Lynae Edmundshttp://orcid.org/0009-0004-7385-8443Marcella A Calfon-Presshttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-4708-389XKarol E Watsonhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-3658-6165Tamara Horwichhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-3208-1023 Abstract BackgroundVirtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising, low-risk strategy to manage many forms of psychological stress and may be a modality to improve cardiovascular health. Recent scientific statements on the mind-heart-body connection call for better adherence to psychological screening and adoption of more holistic “behavioral cardiology” interventions that improve the overall health of patients with or at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to assess safety and preliminarily explore how a VR experience can aid in stress reduction among patients with or at risk for CVD. MethodsA convergent mixed methods approach was used for this single-arm prospective pilot study. In total, 20 patients were recruited from the University of California Los Angeles adult cardiology clinics and cardiac rehabilitation. Surveys and physiologic parameters were collected before, during, and after a 30-minute VR experience aimed at relaxation. The primary outcome was the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S) scale. They participated in a 90-minute visit, during which they completed surveys, including the STAI-S scale, before and after a 30-minute VR experience. Physiological parameters were also collected before, during, and after the experience. Visits concluded with semistructured interviews analyzed with inductive thematic analysis to add depth and nuance to our analysis. ResultsSTAI-S scale scores after the VR experience were significantly decreased from baseline (median 31, IQR 28-38 vs median 24, IQR-29.25; PPPPP ConclusionsThis sample of patients with CVD or risk of CVD had above-average stress, consistent with epidemiological data; the statistically and clinically significant decrease in subjective perception of stress partially converged with physiologic data. Overall, the VR intervention was a safe and feasible stress reduction method. Future research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of this immersive therapy in reducing cardiovascular risk profiles.https://cardio.jmir.org/2025/1/e66557 |
| spellingShingle | Katherine E Makaroff Christopher Van Vincent Grospe Lynae Edmunds Marcella A Calfon-Press Karol E Watson Tamara Horwich Novel Virtual Reality Intervention for Stress Reduction Among Patients With or at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: Mixed Methods Pilot Study JMIR Cardio |
| title | Novel Virtual Reality Intervention for Stress Reduction Among Patients With or at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: Mixed Methods Pilot Study |
| title_full | Novel Virtual Reality Intervention for Stress Reduction Among Patients With or at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: Mixed Methods Pilot Study |
| title_fullStr | Novel Virtual Reality Intervention for Stress Reduction Among Patients With or at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: Mixed Methods Pilot Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Novel Virtual Reality Intervention for Stress Reduction Among Patients With or at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: Mixed Methods Pilot Study |
| title_short | Novel Virtual Reality Intervention for Stress Reduction Among Patients With or at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: Mixed Methods Pilot Study |
| title_sort | novel virtual reality intervention for stress reduction among patients with or at risk for cardiovascular disease mixed methods pilot study |
| url | https://cardio.jmir.org/2025/1/e66557 |
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