Authors: (including presenting author): :
Charm C.K.¹, Wan T.¹, Lui S.F.¹, Shun K.W.¹, Wu Y.K.¹
Affiliation: :
¹Department of Psychiatry, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital
Keyword 1: :
Virtual Reality
Keyword 3: :
mental health nurses
Introduction: :
Work-related stress remains a major concern in healthcare, particularly for mental health nurses who manage complex and emotionally intense situations daily (Azemi, et al, 2022). Chronic stress can result in burnout, reduced job satisfaction, and compromised patient care (Adamopoulos, & Syrou, 2022). Mindful practice—the intentional, nonjudgmental focus on present-moment experiences—has been shown to reduce stress, promote relaxation, and enhance emotional regulation (Wexler & Schellinger, 2023)). Importantly, it also improves situational awareness, enabling staff to better recognize and respond to workplace risks, such as escalating patient behaviors or environmental hazards (Liu, et al, 2023).
Despite its benefits, traditional mindful practice is often difficult to implement in clinical settings due to time constraints, lack of space, and accessibility. To address this, Virtual Reality (VR) is introduced as an innovative platform for delivering mindful practice. VR engages multiple senses to create immersive, calming 3D environments that support deep focus and experiential learning. This technology-enabled approach empowers staff to strengthen self-awareness and attentiveness, which are critical in identifying risks and making timely, safe decisions in high-pressure environments.
Objectives: :
•To reduce stress and promote mental well-being among mental health nurses
•To enhance workplace satisfaction and engagement through a technology-enabled wellness initiative
•To evaluate the impact of a 6-week VR mindful practice pilot program
Methodology: :
A 6-week VR mindful practice program will be conducted from March to April 2026 for nurses in Ward J3 at PYNEH. Participants will attend weekly VR-guided mindful practice sessions using head-mounted displays in a quiet, designated space.
Pre- and post-intervention assessments will be conducted using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) to measure burnout (Portero & Vaquero, 2015) and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) to assess workplace engagement (Fong & Ng, 2012). Heart Rate Variability (HRV) will be recorded during each session as a physiological indicator of stress and relaxation (Christodoulou, et al, 2020).
Result & Outcome: :
This pilot study expects to demonstrate that VR-facilitated mindful practice can reduce burnout, enhance mental resilience, improve job satisfaction, and strengthen awareness of workplace risks and safety cues.
By integrating immersive technology into staff wellness strategies, this initiative empowers healthcare staff to actively manage stress and remain present and attentive in clinical environments. The results may inform scalable wellness programs that promote staff engagement, empowerment, and a safer, more resilient workforce.
