1. Virtual reality-guided mindfulness intervention to enhance psychosocial well-being in caregivers of end-stage kidney disease patients: protocol for a mixed-methods pilot randomised controlled trial.
- Author
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Shankar R, Hong WZ, Bundele A, Si KP, and Mukhopadhyay A
- Subjects
- Humans, Pilot Projects, Single-Blind Method, Anxiety therapy, Anxiety prevention & control, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Male, Female, Caregiver Burden psychology, Mindfulness methods, Caregivers psychology, Kidney Failure, Chronic therapy, Kidney Failure, Chronic psychology, Quality of Life, Virtual Reality, Depression therapy, Depression prevention & control, Stress, Psychological therapy, Stress, Psychological prevention & control
- Abstract
Introduction: Caregivers of patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) face significant challenges that contribute to caregiver burden, negatively impacting their psychosocial well-being. Virtual-reality (VR)-guided mindfulness interventions have shown promise in reducing stress, anxiety and depression in various populations., Methods and Analysis: This pilot study aims to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of a VR-guided mindfulness intervention for ESKD caregivers. A single-centre, single-blind, parallel-group pilot randomised controlled trial will be conducted. Thirty ESKD caregivers will be randomly allocated to either the VR-guided mindfulness intervention group or the sham VR control group. The intervention group will receive a 6 week home-based VR-guided mindfulness programme, while the control group will view relaxing nature videos without mindfulness content. Participants will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention (6 weeks) and follow-up (12 weeks) using validated questionnaires for caregiver burden (Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI)), stress, anxiety, depression (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21)), quality of life (36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36)) and mindfulness (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)). Feasibility outcomes include accrual rates, retention, adherence, questionnaire completion and side effect rates. Semi-structured interviews will explore participants' experiences with the intervention., Ethics and Dissemination: The study has been approved by the NHG Domain Specific Review Board (Reference: 2024-3940-APP1). The results of this pilot study will be reported in peer-reviewed open-access journals and shared with participants and stakeholders., Trial Registration: NCT06479200., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)
- Published
- 2024
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