None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to see if virtual reality immersion therapy can be further tested as a potential therapy for alleviating symptoms in palliative care patients while in hospital. The information obtained will help us to learn strategies, such as time and frequency of usage of therapy, to potentially help many patients in the future. Study participation: Participants will undergo virtual reality immersion sessions daily while in hospital. Twice daily symptom assessments will be done by the investigating team. Follow up questionnaire will be applied at day 3 since commencement of intervention (after discharge if that happens sooner). A small control group will also have symptoms assessments done twice daily. Symptom assessments: Participants will answer verbally a questionnaire grading symptoms from 0 to 10, which will happen twice daily. These will last between 5 to 20 minutes. From day 3 of participating, each participant will be asked, only once, questions related to their experience up until then including tolerability and the device and duration of therapy. This questionnaire will last 10 to 30 minutes. Risks and side effects of the therapy are uncommon, but include dizziness, vertigo nausea, vomiting, anxiety and discomfort. The benefits might include symptom improvement, but will certainly help us learning more about this possibly helpful therapy.
Interventions
Each participant will have a choice of Virtual Reality (VR) scenarios and initial duration (3 to 10 minutes) and frequency (once or twice daily). The scenarios will include a variety of different environment such as beach, urban areas, relaxing ambient, among others.
Ongoing sessions duration of each immersion and frequency will be guided by patients’ preferences within the above options. These sessions will be applied by a member of the research team, who will supervise the session.
Duration of
Each participant will have a choice of Virtual Reality (VR) scenarios and initial duration (3 to 10 minutes) and frequency (once or twice daily). The scenarios will include a variety of different environment such as beach, urban areas, relaxing ambient, among others. Ongoing sessions duration of each immersion and frequency will be guided by patients’ preferences within the above options. These sessions will be applied by a member of the research team, who will supervise the session. Duration of therapy will be up to 14 days or until patient is either: a) discharged home, b) developed a contra-indication or complication of the therapy, c) withdrew wish to continue, d) deceased. Visor Immersive was the chosen device due to its portability, ease of use and available software. The headset along with the software were trialed by all members of the research team. Their application is simple and no formal training is required. Decontamination of the device with disinfectant wipes will be performed before and after each session. Allocation will be in a 2:1 ratio to intervention group and control group – for every 2 participants allocated to intervention group, 1 will be allocated to the control group.
Sponsors
Visor Immersive
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
- adult patient requiring treatment as palliative care in-patient - alert and orientated - expected to stay in hospital for more than 48 hours.
Exclusion criteria
- one or more episodes of delirium during this hospitalisation - non-English speaking - contra-indications to using VR device: severe vertigo, seizures, monocular vision, simulation sickness.
Outcome results
None listed