Hsieh Chung-Heng, Li Dongying
Department of Landscape Architecture, College of Art, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, School of Architecture, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States.
Front Psychiatry. 2022 Dec 14;13:1007396. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1007396. eCollection 2022.
Growing research has found that exposing patients to forest landscapes through technology improves their health. However, studies on the effects of nature therapy sessions on particularly vulnerable groups that require frequent regular treatment such as patients of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is lacking. This study aims to understand the effects of watching panoramic videos of forest walks through virtual reality (VR) headsets on patients. We also examine the effects of the frequency of virtual exposure to forests on the physiological and psychological parameters of patients undergoing dialysis. Twenty-four dialysis patients with a mean age of 65.11 year underwent a virtual nature intervention over the course of 3 weeks. The intervention consists of 3 numbers of 6-min 360-degree nature videos delivered using VR headsets. We measured heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate (HR) using continuous electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring and assessed their emotional states using a questionnaire survey and in-depth interviews. The results showed that the initial 6 min of watching of the panoramic videos through VR headsets resulted in significantly reduced HR and sympathetic nerve activity and increased positive emotional responses. However, repeated VR exposure did not further improve the physiological health of the respondents. Considering these results, the use of VR headsets to watch 6-min nature videos indoors can be used to enhance the positive psychological responses among dialysis and bed-ridden patients. As this study is preliminary, future random controlled trials are needed to compare and determine the best dose, content, and delivery methods of such an intervention.
越来越多的研究发现，通过技术让患者接触森林景观可改善他们的健康状况。然而，针对慢性肾病（CKD）患者等需要频繁定期治疗的特别弱势群体的自然疗法效果研究却很缺乏。本研究旨在了解通过虚拟现实（VR）头戴设备观看森林漫步全景视频对患者的影响。我们还研究了虚拟接触森林的频率对接受透析患者的生理和心理参数的影响。24名平均年龄为65.11岁的透析患者在3周内接受了虚拟自然干预。干预内容包括使用VR头戴设备播放3段时长6分钟的360度自然视频。我们通过连续心电图（ECG）监测测量心率变异性（HRV）和心率（HR），并通过问卷调查和深入访谈评估他们的情绪状态。结果显示，最初通过VR头戴设备观看6分钟全景视频会使心率和交感神经活动显著降低，并增加积极的情绪反应。然而，反复进行VR接触并没有进一步改善受访者的生理健康状况。考虑到这些结果，在室内使用VR头戴设备观看6分钟自然视频可用于增强透析患者和卧床患者的积极心理反应。由于本研究是初步的，未来需要进行随机对照试验来比较并确定这种干预的最佳剂量、内容和实施方法。
