Effect of Virtual Reality and Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Anxiety and Attention Among Cardiac Care Unit Patients

Effect of Virtual Reality and Modified Progressive Muscle Relaxation Distraction Techniques on Anxiety and Attention Among Cardiac Care Unit Patients; RCT.

A randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups was conducted, to determine the effect of virtual reality (VR) and modified progressive muscle relaxation (MPMR) distraction techniques on anxiety, attention and getting distracted from the external environment among cardiac care unit patients.

The study is based on the following hypotheses:

H1: Patients who receive VR intervention have lower Hamilton Anxiety Rating (HAM-A) scores than those who receive MPMR intervention.

H2: Patients who receive VR intervention exhibit improvement in their physiological parameters than those who receive MPMR intervention.

H3: Patients who receive VR intervention have higher Attention/Distraction scores than those who receive MPMR intervention.

This randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups was conducted in the cardiac care unit of Smouha Hospital, affiliated with Alexandria University, Egypt.

A total of 158 patients were recruited using a simple random sampling method and assigned to one of two groups to determine the effects of virtual reality (VR) and modified progressive muscle relaxation (MPMR) distraction techniques on anxiety, attention, and distraction from the external environment among cardiac care unit patients.

Four assessment tools were used:

1. Sociodemographic and Clinical Assessment.
2. Physiological Parameter Assessment.
3. Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A).
4. Attention/Distraction Scale.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Admitted to CCU for at least 3 days after stability.
• Patients who are conscious and stable condition and all of whom exhibited varying levels of anxiety.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Patients with a history of neurological impairments such as motor, visual, and auditory disabilities and psychological disorders.