Objective: Family caregivers (FCGs) of cancer patients who are in hospice experience psychological challenges and poor quality of life (QOL) as a consequence of caregiving demands and anticipatory loss. Supportive interventions are needed. Exposure to nature offers a source of relaxation; however, FCGs are often homebound and have limited opportunities for respite. Technology-mediated nature experiences delivered via virtual reality (VR) may be an alternative. The purpose was to explore the perspectives of hospice FCGs who completed a nature-immersive VR intervention for the enhancement of their emotional health and QOL.
Methods: Nine scenes, including a tropical beach, green meadow, underwater ocean, and red savanna, were offered. Participants were asked to select one scene to view for a minimum of 10 minutes for five consecutive days at home. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via videoconferencing software and audio-taped, then transcribed, coded, and analyzed using content analysis.
Results: Nine participants (aged 33-76 years old) were interviewed. Two content categories included 1) feasibility and 2) acceptability. Participants reported ease-of-use and denied encountering difficulties. Scenes were relaxing and calming, providing mindfulness and escapism elements. Participants enjoyed the interactive, multisensory experience, offering views of wildlife and nature sounds. Two reported motion sickness and eye strain with longer use. Suggestions included extending the study duration and the option to explore other scenes.
Conclusions: Findings provide preliminary evidence for the efficacy of a nature-based VR intervention. Larger, diverse samples, with group randomization, are warranted. Technology-mediated nature experiences offer support for the emotional health and QOL of hospice FCGs.
Objective: This study aimed to explore how dyadic coping (DC) influences the psychological resilience (PR) levels of patients with cervical cancer (CC) and their spouses.
Methods: From April to June 2024, this cross-sectional study involved 177 dyads of patients with CC and their spouses from the gynecology and oncology wards of two tertiary hospitals in Xinjiang. Data were collected through questionnaires on demographic information, clinical characteristics, the Resilience Scale, and the Dyadic Coping Inventory, all of which were self-report measures. The results were thoroughly analyzed utilizing the Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model.
Results: The patients had a mean age of 49.94 ± 8.05 years (range: 26-64), with the majority being at stage II of CC. Their spouses had a mean age of 51.90 ± 8.02 years (range: 27-65). DC scores averaged 105.50 ± 23.98 for patients and 103.34 ± 22.26 for spouses, while PR scores were 63.51 ± 19.68 for patients and 67.44 ± 18.97 for spouses. Positive DC, which significantly correlated with higher levels of PR, was observed in patients with CC and their spouses (r = 0.285, P < 0.01; r = 0.697, P < 0.01). Conversely, a negative DC was associated with a lower PR (r = -0.187, -0.390; P < 0.01). Positive DC by patients with CC and their spouses equally improves both partners' PR. In contrast, negative DC by patients with CC and their spouses affects only their own PR.
Conclusions: Patients with CC and their spouses' PR is significantly influenced by both partners' DC behaviors. When both partners used positive coping strategies, their PR increased. Conversely, negative DC behaviors affected only patients' PR, possibly because of self-concealment and communication barriers, which may explain the lack of a reciprocal impact. Nurses should identify couples at risk for negative DC and implement resilience interventions to encourage both partners' engagement in positive coping.