Explore the Effects of Virtual Reality Based Natural Environment Intervention Programs on Improving Attention, Emotion, and Cognitive Function of Older People
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Enrollment
- 120
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Digit span test
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual natural environment interventions on attention and mood among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan. It was hypothesized that virtual reality combined with natural environments will improve attention to varying degrees and produce mood and physiological health outcomes in the elderly. This will be assessed by comparing the effects of virtual natural interventions with actual urban and natural interventions. Participants will randomly assign to virtual nature, actual nature, or actual urban group for a single 20-minute environmental session.
Detailed Description
This study will examine the effect of virtual natural environment intervention on attention and mood among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan. This consist 3 parallel groups and 2 assessment periods. Participants in communities will be randomly assigned to virtual nature, actual nature, or actual urban group for a single 20-minute environmental session. Data will be collected at baseline and after intervention. This study recruits older adults from community locations in Taipei, Taiwan. Since no similar studies have been conducted before, the medium effect size 0. 25 is assumed, using the F-test analysis of variance, α = 0.05, power = 0.80, calculated the required total of 120 participants. Data is collected using mood and restorative questionnaires, attention tests, and a digital heart variability device. Statistical analyses will be performed using generalized estimating equations.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Prevention
- Masking
- Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking Description
The data collection will be carried out by a researcher who is blind to the intervention allocation, according to standard research guideline.
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 65 Years to — (Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Age 65 years and older
- •Cognitive function is normal (SPMSQ >8)(The SPMSQ test was performed before the intervention to screen the cognitive function of the subjects).
- •The subjects can communicate in Chinese or Taiwanese.
Exclusion Criteria
- •Diseases affecting the results of the study, such as mental illness
- •Vision or hearing problems
- •Diseases transmitted by eyes or skin
Arms & Interventions
Actual nature group: Actual experience of nature environment
actual natural environment; participants in this group engage in 20 minutes of seated meditation in a natural park.
Intervention: Experimental group: Actual nature group (Behavioral)
Virtual nature group: virtual reality experience of nature environment
virtual reality experience of nature environment; Participants watched a 20-minute video of a virtual natural environment filmed by researchers.
Intervention: Experimental group: Virtual nature group (Behavioral)
Actual urban group: actual experience of city
actual experience of city; participants in the group engage in 20 minutes of seated meditation in a safe urban area.
Intervention: Control group: Actual urban group (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Digit span test
Time Frame: Baseline and 20 minutes
To measure attention.
Trail Making Test
Time Frame: Baseline and 20 minutes
To measure attention.
The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule
Time Frame: Baseline and 20 minutes
To measure emotion.
Secondary Outcomes
- Blood pressure, heart rate and heart rate variability(Baseline and 20 minutes)