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Feasibility of an Immersive Virtual Reality Intervention for Hospitalized Patients: An Observational Cohort Study
Mosadeghi S, Reid MW, Martinez B, Rosen BT, Spiegel BM.. JMIR mental health, 2016-06-27
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Virtual reality (VR) offers immersive, realistic, three-dimensional experiences that "transport" users to novel environments. Because VR is effective for acute pain and anxiety, it may have benefits for hospitalized patients; however, there are few reports using VR in this setting. Objective The aim was to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of VR in a diverse cohort of hospitalized patients. Methods We assessed the acceptability and feasibility of VR in a cohort of patients admitted to an inpatient hospitalist service over a 4-month period. We excluded patients with motion sickness, stroke, seizure, dementia, nausea, and in isolation. Eligible patients viewed VR experiences (eg, ocean exploration; Cirque du Soleil; tour of Iceland) with Samsung Gear VR goggles. We then conducted semistructured patient interview and performed statistical testing to compare patients willing versus unwilling to use VR. Results We evaluated 510 patients; 423 were excluded and 57 refused to participate, leaving 30 participants. Patients willing versus unwilling to use VR were younger (mean 49.1, SD 17.4 years vs mean 60.2, SD 17.7 years; P=.01); there were no differences by sex, race, or ethnicity. Among users, most reported a positive experience and indicated that VR could improve pain and anxiety, although many felt the goggles were uncomfortable. Conclusions Most inpatient users of VR described the experience as pleasant and capable of reducing pain and anxiety. However, few hospitalized patients in this "real-world" series were both eligible and willing to use VR. Consistent with the "digital divide" for emerging technologies, younger patients were more willing to participate. Future research should evaluate the impact of VR on clinical and resource outcomes. Clinicaltrial Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02456987; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02456987 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6iFIMRNh3).
Key findings
- We then conducted semistructured patient interview and performed statistical testing to compare patients willing versus unwilling to use VR.
- Results We evaluated 510 patients; 423 were excluded and 57 refused to participate, leaving 30 participants.
- Patients willing versus unwilling to use VR were younger (mean 49.1, SD 17.4 years vs mean 60.2, SD 17.7 years; P=.01); there were no differences by sex, race, or ethnicity.
- Among users, most reported a positive experience and indicated that VR could improve pain and anxiety, although many felt the goggles were uncomfortable.
Why it matters
This small observational study found that most hospitalized patients who tried virtual reality reported a positive experience and thought it could improve pain and anxiety. People with dementia were excluded, and the study does not test any treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Participants510
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 51/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (JMIR mental health) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | JMIR Mental Health: journal h-index 100 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2016 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 510 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 234 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 19.5 citations a year over 12 year(s) since 2016 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 25.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 56 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Brennan Mason Ross Spiegel: h-index 80 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center: institution h-index 866 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 27349654) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 51 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Mosadeghi, S., Reid, M. W., Martinez, B., Rosen, B. T., & Spiegel, B. M. (2016). Feasibility of an Immersive Virtual Reality Intervention for Hospitalized Patients: An Observational Cohort Study. JMIR mental health. https://doi.org/10.2196/mental.5801
Vancouver
Mosadeghi S, Reid MW, Martinez B, Rosen BT, Spiegel BM. Feasibility of an Immersive Virtual Reality Intervention for Hospitalized Patients: An Observational Cohort Study. JMIR mental health. 2016. doi:10.2196/mental.5801. PMID: 27349654.
BibTeX
@article{mosadeghi2016-27349654,
author = {Mosadeghi, S. and Reid, M. W. and Martinez, B. and Rosen, B. T. and Spiegel, B. M.},
title = {{Feasibility of an Immersive Virtual Reality Intervention for Hospitalized Patients: An Observational Cohort Study}},
journal = {JMIR mental health},
year = {2016},
doi = {10.2196/mental.5801},
pmid = {27349654},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2196/mental.5801}
}
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