Can a virtual ocean calm hospital patients? researchers put VR blue spaces to the test
NCT ID NCT07817810
First seen Sep 14, 2026 · Last updated Sep 15, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
Researchers are testing whether immersive virtual reality environments that show blue spaces can improve the mood and emotional well-being of patients in intermediate care units. The study includes 80 adults from two hospitals, split into two groups: one views three 3D 360-degree VR environments through a head-mounted display, while the other views the same scenes in 2D on a tablet. Participants answer questionnaires about their mood, sense of presence in the virtual space, and any physical discomfort. The goal is to see whether headset-based virtual nature offers a simple, low-intensity way to support patients' emotional health during recovery.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- immersive virtual reality environments showing blue spaces, viewed through a head-mounted display
- What this could lead to
- If it works, hospitals could offer a low-cost, drug-free way to lift patients' mood during recovery. It could also shape how designers build calming virtual environments for people in care.
- What could go wrong
- The trial is small, with 80 patients at two hospitals, and measures short-term mood changes rather than lasting health benefits. Some people feel dizzy or queasy in virtual reality, and the calming effect may not hold up outside a supervised session.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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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80 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Apr 2024
- Finished
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Jun 2024
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
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 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion criteria. * Patients of the Intermediate Unit at either of two hospitals: the Hospital de Sant Jaume de Manlleu or the University Hospital of Santa Creu de Vic. * Individuals aged 18 years or older were included. * Participation in the study was voluntary, and all individuals provided written informed consent before enrolment. * Both men and women were eligible, seeking a balanced gender distribution and patient willingness. Exclusion criteria: * Binocular or auditory anomalies. * Pre-existing psychiatric disorders. * Serious medical conditions (e.g., cardiovascular disease, epilepsy, or implanted electronic devices like pacemakers) that could be negatively impacted by HMD-VR technology.
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
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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University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVIC-UCC)
Vic, Barcelona, 08500, Spain