SafeSpace: what is the feasibility and acceptability of a codesigned virtual reality intervention, incorporating compassionate mind training, to support people undergoing cancer treatment in a clinical setting?
Geraldine O'Gara, Lisa Murray, Sofia Georgopoulou, Tim Anstiss, Drew Macquarrie, Pete Wheatstone, Barbie Bellman, Paul Gilbert, Anthony Steed & Theresa Wiseman. 2022.
BMJ open
Objectives The SafeSpace study codesigned and tested a virtual reality (VR) intervention, incorporating relaxation and compassionate mind training to determine acceptability/feasibility in an oncology setting and evaluate impact on physical/psychological well-being and quality of life. Design A two-phase study. Phase I determined key characteristics using an experienced-based codesign approach. Phase II evaluated the intervention using various measures and qualitative interviews in a mixed methods approach. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse measures data and framework analysis to analyse interviews. Setting A specialist cancer centre, UK. Participants 11 in phase I and 21 in phase II. Participants were in cancer treatment, recovery or palliative care. Primary and secondary outcome Primary outcome: acceptability of the intervention, assessed by >60% uptake of three sessions. Secondary outcomes: impact on psychological well-being using EQ-5D/QLQ-C30, Profile of Mood Scale, Warwick and Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, Depression and Anxiety Severity Scale 21, Self-Compassion Scale, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire and a locally developed questionnaire to capture self-compassion post use. Physiological impact was assessed by change in heart rate (HR)/HR variability and electrodermal activity (EDA). Results Twenty participants (mean age=48.7 years; SD=16.87); 65% (n=13) completed three sessions. Mental well-being improved following each use and from baseline to after session 3 (VR 1—z=2.846, p≤0.01; VR 2—z=2.501, p≤0.01; VR 3—z=2.492, p≤0.01). There was statistically significant difference in mean scores for EDA at mid-session and post session compared with pre session (F (1.658, 4.973)=13.364, p<0.05). There was statistically significant reduction in stress levels from baseline to post session 3. Participants found the intervention acceptable and highlighted areas for development. Conclusion The intervention is acceptable and feasible and has shown positive effects on mental well-being/stress in the oncology setting. Larger studies are needed to confirm findings.
Citation
O'Gara, G., Murray, L., Georgopoulou, S., Anstiss, T., Macquarrie, A., Wheatstone, P., … Wiseman, T. (2022). Safespace: what is the feasibility and acceptability of a codesigned virtual reality intervention, incorporating compassionate mind training, to support people undergoing cancer treatment in a clinical setting? BMJ open, 12(2), e047626.
BibTeX
@article{o2022safespace, title={SafeSpace: what is the feasibility and acceptability of a codesigned virtual reality intervention, incorporating compassionate mind training, to support people undergoing cancer treatment in a clinical setting?}, author={O'Gara, Geraldine and Murray, Lisa and Georgopoulou, Sofia and Anstiss, Tim and Macquarrie, Andrew and Wheatstone, Pete and Bellman, Barbie and Gilbert, Paul and Steed, Anthony and Wiseman, Theresa}, journal={BMJ open}, volume={12}, number={2}, pages={e047626}, year={2022}, publisher={British Medical Journal Publishing Group} }