Effect of Virtual Reality and Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Anxiety and Attention Among Cardiac Care Unit Patients

A randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups was conducted, to determine the effect of virtual reality (VR) and modified progressive muscle relaxation (MPMR) distraction techniques on anxiety, attention and getting distracted from the external environment among cardiac care unit patients. The study is based on the following hypotheses: H1: Patients who receive VR intervention have lower Hamilton Anxiety Rating (HAM-A) scores than those who receive MPMR intervention. H2: Patients who receive VR intervention exhibit improvement in their physiological parameters than those who receive MPMR intervention. H3: Patients who receive VR intervention have higher Attention/Distraction scores than those who receive MPMR intervention.