Older PeopleNCT05803460
Explore the Effects of Virtual Reality Natural Environment of Older People
A study testing Experimental group: Actual nature group and Experimental group: Virtual nature group in people with Older People, run by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University at 1 site in Taiwan.
Trial summary
The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual natural environment interventions on attention and mood among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan. It was hypothesized that virtual reality combined with natural environments will improve attention to varying degrees and produce mood and… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Older People
- What is being tested?
- Experimental group: Actual nature group and Experimental group: Virtual nature group
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 120 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTaiwan
- Study dates
- 7 Apr 2023to 31 Jul 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 65 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 65 years and older
- Cognitive function is normal (SPMSQ >8)(The SPMSQ test was performed before the intervention to screen the cognitive function of the subjects).
- The subjects can communicate in Chinese or Taiwanese.
Who cannot join
- Diseases affecting the results of the study, such as mental illness
- Vision or hearing problems
- Diseases transmitted by eyes or skin
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Explore the Effects of Virtual Reality Based Natural Environment Intervention Programs on Improving Attention, Emotion, and Cognitive Function of Older People
The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual natural environment interventions on attention and mood among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan. It was hypothesized that virtual reality combined with natural environments will improve attention to varying degrees and produce mood and physiological health outcomes in the elderly. This will be assessed by comparing the effects of virtual natural interventions with actual urban and natural interventions. Participants will randomly assign to virtual nature, actual nature, or actual urban group for a single 20-minute environmental session.
Read the detailed description
This study will examine the effect of virtual natural environment intervention on attention and mood among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan. This consist 3 parallel groups and 2 assessment periods. Participants in communities will be randomly assigned to virtual nature, actual nature, or actual urban group for a single 20-minute environmental session. Data will be collected at baseline and after intervention. This study recruits older adults from community locations in Taipei, Taiwan. Since no similar studies have been conducted before, the medium effect size 0. 25 is assumed, using the F-test analysis of variance, α = 0.05, power = 0.80, calculated the required total of 120 participants. Data is collected using mood and restorative questionnaires, attention tests, and a digital heart variability device. Statistical analyses will be performed using generalized estimating equations.
- Conditions
- Older People
- Being tested
- Experimental group: Actual nature group, Experimental group: Virtual nature group, Control group: Actual urban group
- Keywords
- Elders, Attention, Emotion, natural environment, virtual reality
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Experimental group: Actual nature groupBehavioural
Participants will go to the park and sit still for 20 minutes.The natural environment site is the same as the video scenes used in the virtual natural environment intervention, located in a natural park in Taipei City.
Experimental group: Virtual nature groupBehavioural
Participants will experience the virtual reality natural environment by the researcher for 20 minutes.The 360-degree panoramic natural environment scenes were from a natural park in Taipei City.Considering the elderly user experience, this study utilized standalone immersive virtual reality headset. Once wearing the goggles in a comfortable seated position, participants engaged in a 20-minute virtual reality environment experience.
Control group: Actual urban groupBehavioural
Participants will sit still for 20 minutes in a city environment.The urban environment is selected within the community's urban landscape.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Actual nature group: Actual experience of nature environment | Experimental | actual natural environment; participants in this group engage in 20 minutes of seated meditation in a natural park. Receives: Behavioral: Experimental group: Actual nature group |
| Virtual nature group: virtual reality experience of nature environment | Experimental | virtual reality experience of nature environment; Participants watched a 20-minute video of a virtual natural environment filmed by researchers. Receives: Behavioral: Experimental group: Virtual nature group |
| Actual urban group: actual experience of city | Active comparator | actual experience of city; participants in the group engage in 20 minutes of seated meditation in a safe urban area. Receives: Behavioral: Control group: Actual urban group |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Digit span test
To measure attention.
Measured: Baseline and 20 minutes
Trail Making Test
To measure attention.
Measured: Baseline and 20 minutes
The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule
To measure emotion.
Measured: Baseline and 20 minutes
Secondary outcomes (1)
Blood pressure, heart rate and heart rate variability
measure the participant's sitting blood pressure, heartbeat and heart rate variability.
Measured: Baseline and 20 minutes
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 Apr 2023
- Study start7 Apr 2023
- Primary completion31 Jul 2024
- Study completion31 Jul 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Older PeopleStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Cheng-Chen Chou, Ph.D, Principal investigator, Nursing
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05803460
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- YM111067E
- Status last verified
- Apr 2023
- First submitted
- 13 Mar 2023
- Last updated
- 15 Dec 2025
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Chou CC, Lin JN, Yu CP, Chen CW, Yeh AY, Lin YK. Effects of a Virtual Reality-Based Natural Environment Intervention on Attention and Mood in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Aging. 2026 Feb 25;9:e87861. doi: 10.2196/87861.
PubMed 41740958
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 Dec 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Explore the Effects of Virtual Reality Based Natural Environment Intervention Programs on Improving Attention, Emotion, and Cognitive Function of Older People
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05803460
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- YM111067E
- Conditions
- Older People
- Keywords
- Elders, Attention, Emotion, natural environment, virtual reality
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 7 Apr 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Jul 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Jul 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 7 Apr 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual natural environment interventions on attention and mood among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan. It was hypothesized that virtual reality combined with natural environments will improve attention to varying degrees and produce mood and physiological health outcomes in the elderly. This will be assessed by comparing the effects of virtual natural interventions with actual urban and natural interventions. Participants will randomly assign to virtual nature, actual nature, or actual urban group for a single 20-minute environmental session.
Detailed description
This study will examine the effect of virtual natural environment intervention on attention and mood among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan. This consist 3 parallel groups and 2 assessment periods. Participants in communities will be randomly assigned to virtual nature, actual nature, or actual urban group for a single 20-minute environmental session. Data will be collected at baseline and after intervention. This study recruits older adults from community locations in Taipei, Taiwan. Since no similar studies have been conducted before, the medium effect size 0. 25 is assumed, using the F-test analysis of variance, α = 0.05, power = 0.80, calculated the required total of 120 participants. Data is collected using mood and restorative questionnaires, attention tests, and a digital heart variability device. Statistical analyses will be performed using generalized estimating equations.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Actual nature group: Actual experience of nature environment | Experimental | Behavioral: Experimental group: Actual nature groupactual natural environment; participants in this group engage in 20 minutes of seated meditation in a natural park. |
| Virtual nature group: virtual reality experience of nature environment | Experimental | Behavioral: Experimental group: Virtual nature groupvirtual reality experience of nature environment; Participants watched a 20-minute video of a virtual natural environment filmed by researchers. |
| Actual urban group: actual experience of city | Active comparator | Behavioral: Control group: Actual urban groupactual experience of city; participants in the group engage in 20 minutes of seated meditation in a safe urban area. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Age 65 years and older
- Cognitive function is normal (SPMSQ >8)(The SPMSQ test was performed before the intervention to screen the cognitive function of the subjects).
- The subjects can communicate in Chinese or Taiwanese.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Diseases affecting the results of the study, such as mental illness
- Vision or hearing problems
- Diseases transmitted by eyes or skin
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental group: Actual nature groupParticipants will go to the park and sit still for 20 minutes.The natural environment site is the same as the video scenes used in the virtual natural environment intervention, located in a natural park in Taipei City. | Behavioural | Actual nature group: Actual experience of nature environment |
| Experimental group: Virtual nature groupParticipants will experience the virtual reality natural environment by the researcher for 20 minutes.The 360-degree panoramic natural environment scenes were from a natural park in Taipei City.Considering the elderly user experience, this study utilized standalone immersive virtual reality headset. Once wearing the goggles in a comfortable seated position, participants engaged in a 20-minute virtual reality environment experience. | Behavioural | Virtual nature group: virtual reality experience of nature environment |
| Control group: Actual urban groupParticipants will sit still for 20 minutes in a city environment.The urban environment is selected within the community's urban landscape. | Behavioural | Actual urban group: actual experience of city |
Primary outcome
Digit span test
Time frame: Baseline and 20 minutes
To measure attention.
Trail Making Test
Time frame: Baseline and 20 minutes
To measure attention.
The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule
Time frame: Baseline and 20 minutes
To measure emotion.
1 secondary outcome
Blood pressure, heart rate and heart rate variability
Time frame: Baseline and 20 minutes
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 15 Dec 2025.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41740958Chou CC, Lin JN, Yu CP, Chen CW, Yeh AY, Lin YK. Effects of a Virtual Reality-Based Natural Environment Intervention on Attention and Mood in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Aging. 2026 Feb 25;9:e87861. doi: 10.2196/87861.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Cheng-Chen Chou, Ph.D principal investigator
Nursing
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Experimental group: Actual nature group and Experimental group: Virtual nature group in people with Older People, run by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University at 1 site in Taiwan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Dec 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Taiwan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Digit span test (time frame: Baseline and 20 minutes). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05803460, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Dec 2025.