In the healthcare profession, workloads are often demanding, with long working hours and unpredictable schedules. Work-related stress is prevalent in a variety of professions, including the field of midwifery. A combination of their work and the inherent emotional and physical demands may result in anxiety, depression or exhaustion. In recent years, virtual reality (VR) has been explored as a tool for mental health treatments. By wearing VR headsets, individuals can immerse themselves in calming environments or engage in activities that reduce stress and promote positive emotions. However, a new approach to personalisation is needed that provides users with techniques more appropriate to their needs and preferences. Human-Work Interaction Design (HWID) research can steer and play an important role as it influences the human-work interaction design process by understanding user needs and requirements. This research paper summarises a randomised controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of Virtual Reality (VR) headsets in reducing work-related stress among midwives in maternity services. This novel study will assess the impact of VR-based relaxation devices on midwives’ emotional well-being and stress levels, as well as explore the user experience. The results from the study are expected to contribute valuable insights into the potential benefits of implementing Virtual Reality in healthcare settings to improve staff mental wellness and work performance as well as improve VR design for relaxation and interventions from a User Experience (UX) perspective.

错误:搜索内容不能为空,请输入英文关键词
错误:关键词超出字数限制,请精简
高级检索

Virtual Reality Headsets for Work-Related Stress Among Midwives

  • Aglaia Gantzopoulou,
  • José Abdelnour-Nocera,
  • Athina Belsi,
  • Linda McDonald,
  • Teresa Macchia,
  • Gulsah Cetinkaya,
  • Dionysios Kokkoris,
  • Makrina Savvidou

摘要

In the healthcare profession, workloads are often demanding, with long working hours and unpredictable schedules. Work-related stress is prevalent in a variety of professions, including the field of midwifery. A combination of their work and the inherent emotional and physical demands may result in anxiety, depression or exhaustion. In recent years, virtual reality (VR) has been explored as a tool for mental health treatments. By wearing VR headsets, individuals can immerse themselves in calming environments or engage in activities that reduce stress and promote positive emotions. However, a new approach to personalisation is needed that provides users with techniques more appropriate to their needs and preferences. Human-Work Interaction Design (HWID) research can steer and play an important role as it influences the human-work interaction design process by understanding user needs and requirements. This research paper summarises a randomised controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of Virtual Reality (VR) headsets in reducing work-related stress among midwives in maternity services. This novel study will assess the impact of VR-based relaxation devices on midwives’ emotional well-being and stress levels, as well as explore the user experience. The results from the study are expected to contribute valuable insights into the potential benefits of implementing Virtual Reality in healthcare settings to improve staff mental wellness and work performance as well as improve VR design for relaxation and interventions from a User Experience (UX) perspective.