Detailed Description:

This quasi-experimental study investigates the effectiveness of a gamified sports exercise intervention delivered through virtual reality (VR) to improve mental health and life expectancy in elderly individuals aged 60 and over who are experiencing suicidal thoughts. The study aims to address the following research questions:

How do gamified sports exercises in a virtual reality environment impact the mental health of elderly individuals with suicidal thoughts? What differences in mental health outcomes are observed between participants engaging in gamified VR exercises and those participating in conventional sports exercises?

The study design involves two groups:

Experimental Group: Participants will engage in VR-based sports training sessions that incorporate gamification elements, such as rewards, competition, and interactive challenges.

Control Group: Participants will participate in traditional sports exercises without gamification or VR components.

Procedures:

Baseline Assessment: All participants will complete a life expectancy questionnaire and standardized mental health assessments to establish baseline data.

Intervention:

The experimental group will undergo a series of VR-based sports training sessions, designed to be engaging and immersive, with gamified elements to enhance motivation and adherence.

The control group will participate in conventional sports exercises, such as light aerobic activities or stretching, delivered in a standard, non-gamified format.

Post-Intervention Assessment: Mental health outcomes, including changes in suicidal ideation, life satisfaction, and overall well-being, will be evaluated using validated questionnaires and scales.

Expected Outcomes:

The study hypothesizes that the experimental group will demonstrate significant improvements in mental health outcomes, including reduced suicidal ideation and increased life satisfaction, compared to the control group. The findings aim to provide evidence-based insights into the potential of gamified VR interventions as a non-pharmacological strategy to enhance the well-being of elderly individuals at risk for suicide.

This study contributes to the growing body of research on innovative approaches to mental health support for vulnerable populations, with a focus on leveraging technology to improve quality of life and reduce suicide risk among the elderly.

Detailed Description

Background Aging is associated with an increased incidence of chronic diseases and mental health issues, including depression and suicidal ideation. Elderly individuals (aged 60 and over) represent a vulnerable population at heightened risk for suicide. Research indicates that physical activity plays a crucial role in improving both mental and physical health outcomes. However, many elderly individuals encounter significant barriers to regular participation in physical exercises, such as low motivation and limited access to facilities.

Emerging technologies, such as gamification and virtual reality (VR), have shown promise in enhancing engagement in health-related behaviors. Gamification-integrating game-like elements into non-game contexts-has been recognized as a potent tool to motivate individuals to participate in physical activities. VR offers an immersive experience that may further enhance the appeal of physical exercises for older adults.

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a gamified sports exercise program in a virtual reality environment as a means to improve mental health and life satisfaction among elderly individuals experiencing suicidal ideation. The intervention seeks to create an engaging and supportive environment to reduce suicidal ideation and increase overall life satisfaction within this demographic.

Study Design This is a quasi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test assessments. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group that engages in VR-based sports exercises or a control group that participates in conventional sports activities without gamified elements.

Intervention

Participants in the experimental group will engage in sports exercises designed in a virtual reality environment, incorporating gamification elements to enhance engagement. The intervention includes:

Structured virtual reality sports sessions guided by trained facilitators.

Gamified features such as rewards, points, and friendly competition to stimulate motivation.

Social interaction elements where participants can engage with each other during sessions to foster community and support.

The control group will participate in traditional physical activity sessions without VR or gamification.

Assessments

Baseline assessments will be conducted before the interventions, with follow-up assessments after the 8-week intervention period. The following tools will be utilized:

Life Expectancy Questionnaire: A validated tool to assess participants' perceptions of their future and overall well-being.

Suicidal Ideation Scale: A standard scale to measure the severity of suicidal thoughts.

Depression Inventory: To assess levels of depressive symptoms before and after the intervention.

Data Analysis Data will be analyzed using appropriate statistical methods to assess the effectiveness of the gamified sports exercise program compared to conventional exercises. Primary outcomes will focus on changes in mental health indicators, including suicidal ideation, life expectancy perceptions, and overall quality of life.

Expected Outcomes

The study anticipates that participation in the gamified virtual reality sports exercises will lead to:

A significant reduction in suicidal thoughts and depressive symptoms among participants.

Improved perceptions of life expectancy among elderly individuals.

Higher rates of physical activity engagement in the experimental group compared to the control group.

Significance The findings of this study are expected to contribute valuable knowledge to the field of elderly mental health, particularly for strategies aimed at reducing suicide risks. By addressing the interplay of mental health and physical activity, the research aims to provide evidence for innovative intervention strategies that can enhance the quality of life for vulnerable elderly populations.

Ethical Considerations The study will adhere to ethical guidelines for research. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants (or their guardians) before enrollment, ensuring they fully understand the study's purpose, procedures, and their right to withdraw at any time.

Key Changes:

Removed Duplicate Information:

Removed eligibility criteria and sample size details, as these are recorded in other data elements.

Focused on providing extended technical details about the intervention, assessments, and data analysis.

Technical and Extended Description:

Added more technical details about the VR-based sports exercises, gamification elements, and assessment tools.

Ensured the description aligns with the protocol's purpose and design without repeating information from other sections.

Improved Flow and Readability:

Organized content into clear sections for better readability and alignment with protocol requirements.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Elderly men aged 60 years and older
• Suicidal thoughts confirmed by psychological evaluation
• Symptoms of depression and loneliness
• Informed consent provided by participant or family
• Residency in Tehran, Iran

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe cognitive impairment or dementia
• Current therapeutic interventions for suicidal ideation or mental health issues
• Acute medical conditions requiring immediate attention
• History of severe substance abuse or dependence
• Significant physical disabilities preventing basic physical activity

Due to persistent technical difficulties in providing a functional web address for the IPD sharing plan on the clinical trial site, interested parties are encouraged to contact zin368@gmail.com for further information. We have encountered issues that prevent the proper display or access of the sharing link, necessitating this alternative means of communication.

In this study, participants will not be fully masked to group assignment due to the nature of the intervention. However, to mitigate bias in reporting and assessment, care providers who conduct the outcome assessments will be masked to the group assignments of the participants. This means that the assessors evaluating participants' mental health and life expectancy outcomes will not know whether individuals belong to the experimental group (engaging in VR-based sports exercises) or the control group (participating in traditional exercises).

Additionally, researchers conducting the data analysis will also remain blinded to group allocations to ensure objective evaluation of results and reduce any potential biases during interpretation. This masking approach is designed to preserve the integrity of the study findings and ensure that the effects of the intervention are accurately attributed to the gamified VR sports exercises.