Effects of Virtual Reality Meditation on Sleep and Delirium in ICU Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Computers, informatics, nursing : CIN April 2, 2025 DOI: 10.1097/CIN.0000000000001307 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA randomized controlled trial tested whether a 20-minute virtual reality-based mindfulness meditation before bedtime improved sleep and reduced delirium in 96 surgical ICU patients at a South Korean university hospital. Subjective sleep quality, measured by the Verran and Snyder-Halpern Sleep Scale, was significantly better in the meditation group than in the standard-care group on the first night (47.82 vs 39.75) and second night (50.26 vs 43.65). However, objective sleep measures from Fitbit devices showed no significant difference in total sleep time between groups on either night. Delirium rates were similar (12.2% vs 12.8%). The authors suggest larger studies are needed to establish the impact of virtual reality meditation.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 96 |
| Population | Patients admitted to an 11-bed surgical ICU at a South Korean university hospital |
| Intervention | Virtual reality-based mindfulness and relaxation meditation |
| Dose | 20-minute session before bedtime |
| Duration | Two nights of ICU admission |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Delirium Icu Sleep Virtual reality |
| Citations | 10 |
| Key finding | Virtual reality meditation improved subjective sleep quality but not objective sleep time or delirium incidence compared with standard care in ICU patients. |
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality meditation compared with standard care on sleep quality and delirium incidence in patients admitted to the ICU. We conducted a randomized controlled trial with 96 patients in an 11-bed surgical ICU at a South Korean university hospital. The control group received usual sleep care, whereas the intervention group received an additional 20-minute virtual reality-based mindfulness and relaxation meditation before bedtime. Using the Verran and Snyder-Halpern Sleep Scale, we found significantly improved subjective sleep quality in the intervention group compared with controls during both the first (47.82 vs 39.75, P = .015) and second nights (50.26 vs 43.65, P = .025) of ICU admission. However, objective sleep measurements using Fitbit devices showed no significant differences in total sleep time between groups for either the first (384.59 vs 358.19 minutes, P = .450) or second night (319.94 vs 310.77 minutes, P = .807). Delirium incidence was similar between groups (12.2% vs 12.8%, P = .938). These findings suggest the need for larger-scale studies with robust experimental designs to definitively establish the impact of virtual reality meditation on sleep quality and delirium in ICU patients.