Comparing 360-degree VR Video of Local vs Overseas Environment on Psychological Health (NCT07447310) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Comparing 360-degree VR Video of Local vs Overseas Environment on Psychological Health
Malaysia82 participantsStarted 2024-11-15
Plain-language summary
Medical students frequently experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression due to intense academic pressures. While spending time outdoors in nature is a proven way to reduce these negative feelings, students rarely have the time to do so. This study aims to find out if using a 360-degree Virtual Reality (VR) headset to experience immersive nature environments can provide similar relaxing benefits.
The main question this study attempts to answer is whether the type of nature environment matters: Does watching a familiar, local Malaysian nature scene reduce stress more or less effectively than watching a novel, overseas nature scene?
The researchers hypothesize that a brief, 15-minute exposure to either 360-degree VR nature environment will successfully reduce short-term feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. Furthermore, they hypothesize that there will be a measurable difference in the psychological benefits between the local and overseas environments, driven by either the comfort of familiarity (local) or the distraction of escapism (overseas).
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Academic Status: Actively enrolled as a fourth-year or fifth-year undergraduate medical student at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
* Age: 18 years of age or older (necessary for providing legal informed consent).
* Sensory Ability: Normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing (the participant can wear contact lenses or glasses that comfortably fit inside the VR headset).
* Availability: Willing and able to commit to the full 2-week study timeline, including both the baseline and follow-up VR sessions.
Exclusion Criteria:
* VR Safety (Neurological): Personal history of epilepsy, seizure disorders, or frequent migraines, as VR screens can occasionally trigger these conditions.
* VR Safety (Vestibular): History of severe motion sickness, vertigo, or inner ear disorders.
* Confounding Medical Factors: Currently receiving active, formal psychiatric treatment or taking prescribed psychoactive medications (such as antidepressants or anxiolytics).
* Physical Limitations: Severe visual or auditory impairments that would prevent full immersion in the visual and auditory elements of the VR environment.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Change in Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Severity (DASS-21)
Timeframe: Baseline (T0 - immediately before the first 15-minute intervention), Day 0 (T1 - immediately after the first intervention), and Week 2 (T2 - immediately after the second intervention).
Trial details
NCT IDNCT07447310
SponsorUniversiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre