Impact of Relaxation Sessions Using a Virtual Reality Application on the Sleep Quality of Caregivers Working Night Shifts

Impact of Using a Virtual Reality Application on the Sleep Quality of Caregivers Working Night Shifts

This project aims to evaluate the impact of relaxation sessions conducted using a virtual reality device on the sleep quality of night-shift healthcare workers. The intervention specifically targets the immediate post-night-shift period, a critical time for recovery, by offering immersive guided relaxation experiences designed to reduce anxiety and promote both mental and physiological relaxation.

Paramedical staff working night shifts are particularly exposed to sleep disorders and psychological difficulties due to the length and organization of their working hours. The ANSES report highlights the central role of anxiety, both as a consequence of night work and as a factor that worsens sleep disturbances.

In response to this situation, the GHU Directorate of Nursing, in collaboration with Occupational Health, the CHRONOS team, and the pain specialist physician, has initiated a reflection on preventive actions aimed at better addressing the vulnerability of healthcare professionals. The objective is to provide concrete responses to psychological distress and the high levels of stress experienced by healthcare workers, which have been further intensified by the health crisis.

Within this framework, it is proposed to specifically address immediate post-night-shift sleep disturbances by implementing a relaxation program using a virtual reality application. This non-pharmacological approach aims to reduce anxiety and improve recovery among paramedical professionals working night shifts.

Inclusion Criteria:

• State-certified nurse or nursing assistant (GHU, GHPG staff)
• Regularly working night shifts and on duty in the units
• Age 18 years and over
• Informed individuals who have signed written consent
• Individuals affiliated with a social security scheme and must be able to understand and read French.

Exclusion Criteria:

• No possibility of follow-up (subjects on fixed-term contracts, ongoing transfers, student reinforcements, etc.)
• Subjects with insufficient command of the French language, preventing them from taking the tests
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women (disruption of the sleep cycle), or women with young children.
• Individuals with a pacemaker or any other implanted medical device, unless medically advised otherwise (due to the radio-magnetic waves emitted by the virtual reality headset)
• Individuals with epilepsy.