Virtual forest therapy: new study tests VR for caregiver burnout
NCT ID NCT05909202
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study explored whether watching 360-degree nature videos through a virtual reality headset could lower stress in people caring for a loved one who had a stem cell transplant. Twenty-eight caregivers used the VR headset for 20 minutes each day over four weeks. Researchers measured changes in stress, mood, sleep, and fatigue through surveys and saliva samples.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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28 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jun 2024
- Finished
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Feb 2026
- Lead sponsor
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A government research agency
The lead sponsor is the US National Institutes of Health.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 100 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
* INCLUSION CRITERIA: Caregiver subjects In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria: 1. Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. 2. Age 18 years and older. 3. Serving as a primary caregiver\* for an adult patient (18 years and older) planning to undergo their 1st allogeneic HSCT at the NIH Clinical Center during the four-week study period. 4. Ability to read, speak and understand English. 5. Access to necessary resources for participating in online survey (i.e., computer, laptop, tablet, smartphone, internet access). * If more than one caregiver is planned for the transplant recipient during the transplant phase, only one primary caregiver will be eligible to participate in the study. A primary caregiver is defined as someone who lives with or provides care regularly for the HSCT recipient during the 4-week study period. Caregivers will be categorized as to whether they are the sole caregiver versus one of the multiple caregivers. HSCT recipient subjects In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria: 1. Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. 2. Age 18 years and older. 3. Planning to undergo their 1st allogeneic HSCT at the NIH Clinical Center during the four-week study period. 4. Ability to read, speak and understand English EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Caregiver subjects An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study: 1. Serving as a paid caregiver for the patient. 2. Not agreeing to follow the study procedures. 3. Recent use of immersive VR programs for stress relief and/or entertainment (more than 2 days/week within the past 3 months). \* 4. Participation in another stress-reduction type interventional study within the past 3 months. 5. Having a medical condition that is prone to frequent nausea or dizziness. 6. Current or past history of seizure, chronic migraines, epilepsy, claustrophobia, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder or other known severe neurological or mental health disorders. 7. Being sensitive to flashing light or motion. 8. Having a balance disorder such as vertigo and cybersickness. 9. Having another medical condition or injury that may prevent use of VR headset and/or VR software (e.g., visual or hearing problems, open sores, wounds, skin rash on face, or active infection). 10. Self-reported diagnosis of Opioid, Cocaine and/or Cannabis use disorder in the past year. * In Phase II, if a participant from Sham VR group personally uses immersive VR programs for stress relief and/or entertainment (more than 2 days/week) during the study period, the participant will be no longer eligible. HSCT recipient subjects: 1\. Not agreeing to follow the study procedures.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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