{"title":"Evaluating the impact of virtual reality on reducing restrictive practices in psychiatric wards.","authors":"Akpoveta Eguono Deborah, Uchenna Esther Okpete, Haewon Byeon","doi":"10.5498/wjp.v15.i2.101287","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This manuscript critically evaluates the randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted by Phiri <i>et al</i>, which assessed the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) training for psychiatric staff in reducing restrictive practices (RPs). Specifically, this RCT investigated the impact of VR on the handling of aggressive patients by psychiatric staff compared to traditional training methods. Despite significant reductions in perceived discrimination in the VR group, there were no major improvements in self-efficacy or anxiety levels. The system usability scale rated the VR platform highly, but it did not consistently outperform traditional training methods. Indeed, the study shows the potential for VR to reduce RPs, although fluctuations in RP rates suggest that external factors, such as staff turnover, influenced the outcomes. This manuscript evaluates the study's methodology, results, and broader implications for mental health training. Additionally, it highlights the need for more comprehensive research to establish VR as a standard tool for psychiatric staff education, focusing on patient care outcomes and real-world applicability. Finally, this study explores future research directions, technological improvements, and the potential impact of policies that could enhance the integration of VR in clinical training.</p>","PeriodicalId":23896,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Psychiatry","volume":"15 2","pages":"101287"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11758060/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"World Journal of Psychiatry","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.5498/wjp.v15.i2.101287","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This manuscript critically evaluates the randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted by Phiri et al, which assessed the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) training for psychiatric staff in reducing restrictive practices (RPs). Specifically, this RCT investigated the impact of VR on the handling of aggressive patients by psychiatric staff compared to traditional training methods. Despite significant reductions in perceived discrimination in the VR group, there were no major improvements in self-efficacy or anxiety levels. The system usability scale rated the VR platform highly, but it did not consistently outperform traditional training methods. Indeed, the study shows the potential for VR to reduce RPs, although fluctuations in RP rates suggest that external factors, such as staff turnover, influenced the outcomes. This manuscript evaluates the study's methodology, results, and broader implications for mental health training. Additionally, it highlights the need for more comprehensive research to establish VR as a standard tool for psychiatric staff education, focusing on patient care outcomes and real-world applicability. Finally, this study explores future research directions, technological improvements, and the potential impact of policies that could enhance the integration of VR in clinical training.
期刊介绍:
The World Journal of Psychiatry (WJP) is a high-quality, peer reviewed, open-access journal. The primary task of WJP is to rapidly publish high-quality original articles, reviews, editorials, and case reports in the field of psychiatry. In order to promote productive academic communication, the peer review process for the WJP is transparent; to this end, all published manuscripts are accompanied by the anonymized reviewers’ comments as well as the authors’ responses. The primary aims of the WJP are to improve diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive modalities and the skills of clinicians and to guide clinical practice in psychiatry.