Virtual Social Interaction and Psychological Capital in Chemotherapy Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Cancer-related psychological distress remains underaddressed globally. Virtual interventions offer promising alternatives but lack evidence for enhancing Psychological Capital (PsyCap) in chemotherapy patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a virtual social interaction intervention on PsyCap in patients undergoing chemotherapy. METHODS: This single-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) enrolled 76 chemotherapy patients hospitalized in the oncology ward of Imam Sajjad Hospital, Ramsar, Mazandaran, Iran. Participants were selected via convenience sampling and then allocated to intervention or control groups using an odd-even (alternating) assignment method. The intervention group participated in 6 weeks of virtual social interactions, consisting of asynchronous materials (recorded audio, short videos, images, PDF, and PowerPoint files) uploaded weekly to Iranian messaging platforms (Eitaa), as well as live synchronous group sessions conducted on the Skyroom platform with a minimum of 10 participants per session. The control group received standard care. The PsyCap was measured using Luthans' Psychological Capital Questionnaire at both baseline and post-intervention. The Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) models (A/B) were adjusted for baseline scores and age. RESULTS: The intervention group showed improvements across all outcomes, with the total PsyCap score increasing by 23.6 points. Components significantly increased: self-efficacy by 5.8 points, resilience by 5.8, hope by 5.5, and optimism by 6.5 (p < 0.0001). ANCOVA models confirmed robust effects after adjusting for baseline scores and age (Δ SMD > 1). CONCLUSIONS: Virtual social interactions significantly enhance PsyCap in chemotherapy patients. However, to confidently generalize these findings and make recommendations, similar studies need to be conducted and replicated in larger, multicenter trials.