Dr José Ferrer Costa, whom you know as a regular physician contributor of the SundayResearchDives published on VRforHealth.com, is also the first author of a brand new publication in JMIR XR and Spatial Computing. The title of the new article is “Immediate Impact of an 8-Week Virtual Reality Educational Program on Burnout and Work Engagement among Health Care Professionals: Pre-Post Pilot Study.” Healthcare professional burnout is not only an unfortunately common “side effect” of being a healthcare professional; it also has a massive impact on the availability of care. This new article is of particular interest because it focuses in on the value of virtual reality solutions for the reduction of the symptoms of burnout. It is also a topic near and dear to the heart of Dr Ferrer Costa. Given our direct relationship with Dr Ferrer Costa, we are delighted to be able to offer our readers the exceptional opportunity of hearing directly from him about his experience in doing the research study. Please read on for the interview of Dr Ferrer Costa by Denise Silber.
I vividly recall a touching moment when a nurse from the palliative care unit shared how, during a particularly challenging day, she and two colleagues—who were also participants in the program—paused for five minutes to practice a self-compassion technique they learned from our sessions. Dr José Ferrer Costa
VRforHealth: When and how did you first think of doing this research?
Dr Ferrer Costa: The inception of this research was quite personal and somewhat serendipitous. My interest in virtual reality (VR) began as a hobby in 2019, and during the pandemic, I delved deeper, learning to develop VR worlds and content. I created virtual spaces for meditation and relaxation within the metaverse. Around the same time, burnout rates among my colleagues were escalating dramatically due to the pandemic pressures in 2020-21. Conversations with friends in the healthcare sector often revealed profound distress; statements like, “I feel like the patients come to see me just to bother me,” or “sometimes I don’t even care about what they’re telling me,” were alarming and served as a red flag. These observations prompted me to think about practical solutions to aid mental health.
Together with Dr. Nuria Moran, a fellow family doctor and a professor of mindfulness at the University of Barcelona, we devised an educational VR program tailored for healthcare workers. We focused on creating not just the content and animations suitable for our peers but also on the program’s format—completely offline and standalone content in headsets, organized into 8 sessions lasting 10-13 minutes each. This design was intentional to ensure the program could be seamlessly integrated into the hectic routines of healthcare professionals, providing them with accessible tools for stress management and mental well-being.
VRforHealth: How did you find the time and budget to do it?
Dr Ferrer Costa: “Projecte Benestar” was both inspiring and challenging. The development of the VR content and the clinical research protocol, which required approval from our ethics committee and institutional research department, was largely done during my spare time. We began the pilot in 2022 at the first center with only two VR headsets, which limited our capacity and necessitated dividing participants into three staggered groups. This arrangement stretched the program throughout the year but provided valuable insights into optimizing VR use in clinical settings. This phase was critical not only in managing logistics but also in learning how to efficiently use VR in a clinical setting.
The encouraging feedback from this initial phase prompted a shift in my professional responsibilities; I began transitioning from primary care to the innovation department in late 2022, which significantly aided in managing the program expansion in 2023. This move coincided with the addition of my personal headset, bringing our total to three and allowing for larger group sessions.
By mid-2023, preliminary results from the pilot had garnered substantial institutional support, leading to a pivotal expansion of the project. “Projecte Benestar” evolved from a pilot into an institutional program, integrated into the occupational health prevention department—an achievement marking significant institutional recognition and trust. This expansion was further supported by funding for six additional headsets, which were allocated across six primary care centers. I trained psychologists at these centers in the use of VR, enabling them to independently conduct sessions and replicate the program. These developments not only ensured the sustainability of “Projecte Benestar” but also paved the way for broader application of VR technology in other projects across the centers. This evolution from a modest pilot to a cornerstone institutional program has been incredibly rewarding and a testament to the potential of digital health initiatives.
VRforHealth: What was the most satisfying part of doing the research?
Dr José Ferrer Costa: While the positive results from our data analysis were certainly gratifying*, the most satisfying aspects of “Projecte Benestar” for me were deeply personal and impactful.
The first was the firsthand accounts and feedback from the participants. I vividly recall a touching moment when a nurse from the palliative care unit shared how, during a particularly challenging day, she and two colleagues—who were also participants in the program—paused for five minutes to practice a self-compassion technique they learned from our sessions. This small act, she explained, significantly helped them cope with the day’s pressures. Hearing such stories, knowing the real and immediate benefits our program could offer to healthcare professionals in their daily struggles, was profoundly moving and immensely rewarding.
The second fulfilling outcome was the “snowball effect” that the program initiated within our institution. Participants, having experienced the benefits of VR firsthand, approached me with innovative ideas for applying VR in their respective fields to benefit their patients. This enthusiasm and proactive engagement have led to what we now refer to as the VR Hub at BSA. The hub is a growing ecosystem of VR-based initiatives, expanding well beyond the original scope of Projecte Benestar. Here is a graphic illustrating the evolution of VR use at our institution and the potential projects we are currently exploring. Witnessing this organic growth and seeing the enthusiasm from other professionals to adopt and adapt VR solutions has been incredibly fulfilling. Now, if only I could find a time machine to meet the ever-growing demand for these exciting projects!
VRforHealth: What was the most challenging aspect of the research?
Dr José Ferrer Costa: One of the most significant challenges in conducting “Projecte Benestar” was ensuring the technical reliability of the VR equipment. Integrating such innovative technology seamlessly into the busy daily routines of healthcare professionals required not only functional hardware but also a user-friendly setup that participants could engage with under time constraints. Additionally, managing the logistics of scheduling and session supervision posed substantial challenges. It demanded meticulous planning and flexibility to accommodate the varying schedules of healthcare professionals. The initial phase with limited resources taught us the importance of adaptability and perseverance. Receiving further support from Badalona Serveis Assistencials (BSA), including additional time and VR headsets, was crucial in overcoming these hurdles and expanding the program’s reach and impact.
The growth of the VR Hub at Badalona Serveis Assistencials is opening new doors. We are actively seeking collaborations and funding opportunities to develop the numerous innovative initiatives proposed by our clinical professionals, which promises to propel our VR project into exciting new territories. Dr José Ferrer Costa
VRforHealth: Now that it is finished and published, how do you feel? What are the plans?
Dr José Ferrer Costa: I feel immensely proud of what we’ve achieved with “Projecte Benestar.” The completion and publication of this research mark a significant milestone, and I am grateful for the hard work of our team and the dedication of all the participants. Looking forward, we are planning to expand the scope of our project. This includes enrolling a larger sample size to further validate our findings and exploring the long-term effects of VR interventions on healthcare professionals’ well-being. We are also considering partnerships with other institutions to broaden the impact of our work. This expansion will potentially allow us to test the feasibility of implementing our VR interventions across different settings, enhancing distribution scale-up. Additionally, the growth of the VR Hub at Badalona Serveis Assistencials is opening new doors. We are actively seeking collaborations and funding opportunities to develop the numerous innovative initiatives proposed by our clinical professionals, which promises to propel our project into exciting new territories.
Denise Silber: Thank you José Ferrer Costa for this amazing and inciteful interview!
The citation of the article:
Ferrer Costa J, Moran N, Garcia Marti C, Colmenares Hernandez L, Radu Ciorba Ciorba F, Ciudad M
Immediate Impact of an 8-Week Virtual Reality Educational Program on Burnout and Work Engagement Among Health Care Professionals: Pre-Post Pilot Study
JMIR XR Spatial Comput 2024;1:e55678
URL: https://xr.jmir.org/2024/1/e55678
DOI: 10.2196/55678
*”The statistical analysis revealed significant improvements in the MBI and UWES indices after the intervention (P<.05).”
This article was originally published on vrforhealth