--- title: "Feasibility trial of a co-developed virtual reality rehabilitation intervention for recovery after" id: "bmj-open-14-virtual-reality-to-aid-recovery-from-critical-illness-a-feasibility-trial-of-a" canonical_url: "https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/bmj-open-14-virtual-reality-to-aid-recovery-from-critical-illness-a-feasibility-trial-of-a" content_type: "clinical_feed_article" specialty: "Critical Care" source_name: "BMJ Open" source_url: "http://bmjopen.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/16/8/e119613?rss=1" published_at: "2026-08-28T09:38:04.000Z" evidence_level: "Journal Feed" license: "CC-BY-NC-4.0 / Informational Use" --- # Feasibility trial of a co-developed virtual reality rehabilitation intervention for recovery after ## Provenance & Clinical Metadata - **Canonical URL:** https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/bmj-open-14-virtual-reality-to-aid-recovery-from-critical-illness-a-feasibility-trial-of-a - **Specialty:** [Critical Care](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/critical-care.md) - **Primary Source:** BMJ Open - **Source URL:** [Original Journal Publication](http://bmjopen.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/16/8/e119613?rss=1) - **Published At:** 2026-08-28T09:38:04.000Z - **Evidence Rating:** Journal Feed ## Executive GIST (TL;DR) - Improved survival after critical illness has increased the number of patients with long-term physical and psychological morbidity, creating a need for accessible post-ICU rehabilitation. - Patients and people with lived ICU experience co-developed a virtual reality–mediated rehabilitation intervention called **VR READY** aimed at supporting recovery after critical illness. - The intervention was evaluated in a single-arm, non-randomised feasibility trial with an embedded process evaluation at a District General Hospital in Wales. - Inclusion criteria: adults who required organ support in the ICU for more than 48 hours during the current admission and were stepping down to a general ward (±48 hours). - Of 87 patients screened, 37 were approached and 22 were recruited to the trial. - Intervention protocol: participants were asked to use **virtual reality** for at least 5 minutes per day for 14 days. - Primary outcome: feasibility defined by prespecified criteria; secondary outcomes were patient-prioritised recovery and well-being measures assessed at baseline and day 14, with a qualitative interview at 4–6 weeks. - Data completion rates: 91% baseline completion, 49.5% at 14-day follow-up, and 27.3% completed the qualitative interview. - Intervention adherence was low (37.9%); however, qualitative feedback from participants who engaged suggested perceived benefit of **VR READY** for recovery. - Feasibility criteria for recruitment and data completion were met, but criteria for retention and intervention adherence were not met. - Investigators conclude the co-developed intervention was not feasible in its current format, potentially because it was offered too early in recovery when patients experienced fatigue, low motivation, and limited resilience. - Further research is required to determine optimal timing and mode of delivery before assessing efficacy and cost-effectiveness. Trial registration: ISRCTN88854487. ## Clinical Analysis & Structured Key Points Background Improved survival from critical illness has led to an increase in patients with long-term physical and psychological morbidity. Postintensive care rehabilitation services are variable and it is recognised that there is a need for inclusive and accessible interventions to support recovery after critical illness. We engaged with people with lived experience of critical care admission to co-produce a virtual reality mediated intervention (ViRtual REality to AiD recoverY post intensive care unit (ICU) (VR READY). Objectives Our primary objective was to determine the feasibility and acceptability of VR READY to improve the patient experience during recovery from critical illness. Secondary objective s included assessment of the feasibility and acceptability of selected outcome measures for use in future efficacy and cost-effectiveness studies for ICU recovery. Design The co-developed intervention (VR READY) was evaluated in a single arm, non-randomised feasibility trial with embedded process evaluation in patients leaving critical care. Setting District General Hospital in Wales. Participants Adults who had been admitted to an ICU requiring organ support for more than 48 hours during their current hospital admission. Patients were approached at the point of stepping down from the ICU to a general ward (±48 hours). 87 patients were screened for eligibility, 37 were approached and 22 participants were recruited. Intervention Participants were asked to use VR READY for at least 5 min per day for 14 days. Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary outcome was feasibility defined by prespecified criteria. Secondary outcomes prioritised by patients and pertaining to recovery and well-being were assessed at baseline and 14 days. A qualitative interview was conducted 4 - 6 weeks later. Results 22 participants were recruited with 91% completion of baseline measures, 49.5% completion at 14-day follow-up and 27.3% completing the qualitative interview. Intervention adherence was poor (37.9%), however qualitative findings suggested that participants that engaged with the intervention considered VR READY beneficial to their recovery. While feasibility criteria were met for recruitment and data completion, criteria for retention and intervention adherence were not. Conclusions Critical illness is a traumatic experience. Our co-developed rehabilitation intervention VR READY was not feasible in its current format, potentially as a result of being offered too early in recovery when patients were struggling with fatigue, motivation and resilience. VR READY may be beneficial to recovery but further research is needed into optimal mode and timing. 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