SafeSpace: what is the feasibility and acceptability of a codesigned virtual reality intervention, incorporating compassionate mind training, to support people undergoing cancer treatment in a clinical setting?

• Published in: BMJ open 2022-02, Vol.12 (2), p.e047626-e047626
• Main Authors: O'Gara, Geraldine, Murray, Lisa, Georgopoulou, Sofia, Anstiss, Tim, Macquarrie, Andrew, Wheatstone, Pete, Bellman, Barbie, Gilbert, Paul, Steed, Anthony, Wiseman, Theresa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adult oncology; Anxiety; Breast cancer; Cancer therapies; Chemotherapy; complementary medicine; Fear & phobias; Feasibility Studies; Humans; Intervention; Likert scale; Middle Aged; Mindfulness; Neoplasms - therapy; Oncology; Pain management; Physiology; Qualitative research; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Self compassion; Surveys and Questionnaires; Virtual Reality; Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy; Well being
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047626

ObjectivesThe SafeSpace study codesigned and tested a virtual reality (VR) intervention, incorporating relaxation and compassionate mind training to determine acceptability/feasibility in an oncology setting and evaluate impact on physical/psychological well-being and quality of life.DesignA two-phase study. Phase I determined key characteristics using an experienced-based codesign approach. Phase II evaluated the intervention using various measures and qualitative interviews in a mixed methods approach. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse measures data and framework analysis to analyse interviews.SettingA specialist cancer centre, UK.Participants11 in phase I and 21 in phase II. Participants were in cancer treatment, recovery or palliative care.Primary and secondary outcomePrimary outcome: acceptability of the intervention, assessed by >60% uptake of three sessions. Secondary outcomes: impact on psychological well-being using EQ-5D/QLQ-C30, Profile of Mood Scale, Warwick and Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, Depression and Anxiety Severity Scale 21, Self-Compassion Scale, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire and a locally developed questionnaire to capture self-compassion post use. Physiological impact was assessed by change in heart rate (HR)/HR variability and electrodermal activity (EDA).ResultsTwenty participants (mean age=48.7 years; SD=16.87); 65% (n=13) completed three sessions. Mental well-being improved following each use and from baseline to after session 3 (VR 1—z=2.846, p≤0.01; VR 2—z=2.501, p≤0.01; VR 3—z=2.492, p≤0.01). There was statistically significant difference in mean scores for EDA at mid-session and post session compared with pre session (F (1.658, 4.973)=13.364, p