Three-dimensional Virtual Reality and Hands-on Aromatherapy

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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A quasi-experimental trial was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of this combination in promoting happiness, perceived stress, sleep quality, experience on meditation, and life satisfaction among institutionalized older adults in Taiwan.

Detailed Description
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Background: In Taiwan, which has one of the most rapidly aging populations in the world, it is becoming increasingly critical to promote successful aging strategies that are effective, easily usable, and acceptable to institutionalized older adults. Although many practitioners and professionals have explored aromatherapy and identified its positive psychological benefits, the effectiveness of a combination of 3D virtual reality and hands-on aromatherapy remains unknown. Objectives: A quasi-experimental trial was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of this combination in promoting happiness, perceived stress, sleep quality, experience on meditation, and life satisfaction among institutionalized older adults in Taiwan. Methods: Sixty institutionalized elderly participants underwent the combination program or were in a control group. Weekly two-hour sessions were implemented for 9 weeks. The outcome variables were happiness perceived, stress, sleep quality, experience on meditation, and life satisfaction, which were assessed at baseline, and after the intervention.

Official Title
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Effectiveness of a Combination of Three-dimensional Virtual Reality and Hands-on Aromatherapy in Improving Institutionalized Older Adults' Psychological Health

Conditions
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Mental Health

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: 3D virtual reality and hands-on aromatherapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: An ability to understand verbal instructions An ability to provide simple responses An ability to operate a joystick freely with at least one hand Exclusion Criteria: A history of severe psychiatric conditions; Dementia Significant visual or hearing impairment; Marked upper motor difficulties that could affect the participants' ability to participate in the study Currently suffering from severe illnesses, e.g., stroke and Parkinson disease.
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Experimental group<br>3D virtual reality and hands-on aromatherapy | Other: 3D virtual reality and hands-on aromatherapy<br>* Participants will receive 8-session 3DVR aroma therapy activities. Each session was delivered over 2 hours once a week, and at each session, the participant received hands-on guidance for preparing an aromatherapy product that they could use for the next seven days.<br>|
| No Intervention: Control group<br>No intervention | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Happiness | The Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI) was used to measure happiness. The OHI consists of 29 items, Each item was scored on a Likert-type scale of 1-4, with higher scores indicating a higher level of happiness. | nine weeks | 
| Perceived stress | The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) consists of 14 items. Each item was scored on a Likert-type scale that ranged from 0 (never) to four (very often). With higher scores indicating a higher level of stress. | nine week | 
| Sleep quality | The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) was consists of 14 items. Each item was scored on a Likert-type scale that ranged from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating a lower level of sleep quality. | nine weeks | 
| Experience on meditation | A shortened version of the 10-item Experience on meditation (EOM-EL). Each item was scored on a Likert-type scale of 1-5, with higher scores indicating a higher level of experience on meditation. | nine weeks | 
| Life satisfaction | This scale is a short-form version containing 10 items from the 20-item Life Satisfaction Index A (LSIA). The response options for scoring were 0 indicating Disagree and 1 indicating Agree. The total raw scores ranged from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating a higher level of life satisfaction. | nine weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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3D VR, Aromatherapy, older adult, happiness, stress, sleep quality, experience on meditation, life satisfaction