Virtual reality as support before elective tumor surgery to improve anxious/depressive symptoms

Status

Recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

DRKS

Registry ID

DRKS00037783

Enrollment

Registered

2025-09-08

Start date

2025-06-16

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2026-03-30

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C23 C24 C25

Interventions

Group 1: Use of the VR headset on the evening before surgery, elective surgery on the following day Group 2: No use of the VR headset on the evening before surgery, elective surgery on the following d

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: - Patients =18 years of age capable of giving informed consent - Signed written informed consent - Oncological disease - Mental and physical condition adequate to participate in study procedures as assessed by the investigator - Indication for surgery for tumor resection

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: - Contraindications to the use of a VR headset as assessed by the investigator, e.g., known seizure disorder, uncontrolled cerebral metastases - Participation in another interventional clinical trial

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Feasibility: Number of patients in whom the use of the VR headset is feasible for the predefined period (30 minutes). Reduction of preoperative anxiety: Decrease in the severity of anxious symptoms through the use of a VR headset, measured using the German version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS), both assessed on the evening before surgery.	—

Measure

Time frame

Feasibility: Number of patients in whom the use of the VR headset is feasible for the predefined period (30 minutes). Reduction of preoperative anxiety: Decrease in the severity of anxious symptoms through the use of a VR headset, measured using the German version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS), both assessed on the evening before surgery.

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Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Patient satisfaction with the use of the VR headset: Assessed using the Player Experience Inventory (PXI) questionnaire (German version) after completion of the VR session. Postoperative pain progression: Pain will be assessed preoperatively as well as postoperatively on days 1, 3, 5, and 7, and on the day of hospital discharge or 30 days postoperatively, using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Complication rate: Postoperative complications will be recorded using the Clavien-Dindo Classification (CDC) and the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI) at the end of hospital treatment. Analgesic requirement: Analgesic use will be documented based on administered pain medication recorded in the digital patient file.	—

Measure

Time frame

Patient satisfaction with the use of the VR headset: Assessed using the Player Experience Inventory (PXI) questionnaire (German version) after completion of the VR session. Postoperative pain progression: Pain will be assessed preoperatively as well as postoperatively on days 1, 3, 5, and 7, and on the day of hospital discharge or 30 days postoperatively, using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Complication rate: Postoperative complications will be recorded using the Clavien-Dindo Classification (CDC) and the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI) at the end of hospital treatment. Analgesic requirement: Analgesic use will be documented based on administered pain medication recorded in the digital patient file.

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Countries

Germany

Contacts

Public ContactSophia M. Schmitz

Uniklinik Essen

sophia.schmitz@uk-essen.de+4920172386604

Outcome results

None listed

Source: DRKS (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Apr 4, 2026