Table 2.

Demographic characteristics of the sample

Characteristic	VR (n = 34)	TAU (n = 22)
Age (year), mean (SD)	40.8 (13.2)	40.7 (11.9)
Sex, n (%)
Male	9 (26.5)	10 (45.5)
Female	25 (73.5)	12 (54.5)
Ethnicity, n (%)
White	23 (67.6)	11 (50)
Other white background	2 (5.9)	1 (4.5)
White and Asian	1 (2.9)	1 (4.5)
Indian	1 (2.9)	0 (0)
Pakistani	0 (0)	1 (4.5)
Other Asian background	1 (2.9)	0 (0)
African	4 (11.8)	8 (36.4)
Other Black background	1 (2.9)	0 (0)
Other	1 (2.9)	0 (0)
Education level, n (%)
No formal qualifications	1 (2.9)	0 (0)
GCSE or equivalent	9 (26.5)	4 (18.2)
A-level or equivalent	7 (20.5)	4 (18.2)
Undergraduate	15 (44.1)	9 (40.9)
Postgraduate or above	2 (5.9)	5 (22.7)
Disorder, n (%)
Anxiety	1 (2.9)	2 (9.1)
Depression	8 (23.5)	4 (18.2)
Post-traumatic stress disorder	1 (2.9)	0 (0)
None	21 (61.8)	13 (59.1)
Other	3 (8.8)	3 (13.6)
Role, n (%)
Mental health nurse	9 (26.5)	9 (40.9)
Healthcare support worker	22 (64.7)	12 (54.5)
Occupational therapist	0 (0)	1 (4.5)
Other	3 (8.8)	0 (0)
Work time in NHS, n (%)
> 8 months	0 (0)	1 (4.5)
8 months to 1 years	3 (8.8)	1 (4.5)
1-5 years	19 (55.9)	6 (27.3)
6-10 years	2 (5.9)	2 (9.1)
< 10 years	10 (29.4)	12 (54.5)
Experience in inpatient psychiatric wards, n (%)
> 1 year	3 (8.8)	2 (9.1)
1-2 years	5 (14.7)	2 (9.1)
3-4 years	7 (20.6)	1 (4.5)
4-5 years	7 (20.6)	3 (13.6)
≤ 5 or more year	12 (35.3)	14 (63.6)
Experience in restrictive training, n (%)		n = 21
None	2 (5.9)	1 (4.5)
> 1 year	3 (8.8)	6 (27.3)
1-2 years	6 (17.6)	1 (4.5)
3-4 years	4 (11.8)	0 (0)
4-5 years	6 (17.6)	3 (13.6)
≤ 5 or more years	13 (38.2)	10 (45.5)

VR: Virtual reality; TAU: Treatment as usual; GCSE: General Certificate of Secondary Education; NHS: National Health Service.