Randomization and Blinding
RECRUITMENT
The randomization procedure was performed by a research assistant who was not involved in the recruitment, enrollment, and treatment process. Participants were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to either the VR-based intervention group or the control group using block randomization (block size, 4). The research assistant who performed randomization prepared opaque, sealed envelopes numbered sequentially to conceal the allocation sequences and delivered them to participants to inform allocation results.Because of the nature of the intervention, only the outcome assessor was blinded to the group allocation. The participants and interventionists could not be blinded. Nevertheless, the participants were instructed not to reveal their group allocation to the outcome assessor at the time of outcome assessment and were asked not to share details about the intervention with others.