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Patient Receptiveness to Using Virtual Reality

Patient Receptiveness to Using Virtual Reality as a Distractor From Pain

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03528668
Enrollment
89
Registered
2018-05-18
Start date
2018-04-16
Completion date
2018-10-12
Last updated
2021-02-24

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

Conditions

Anxiety, Pain

Brief summary

This study will evaluate the acceptability, use, and general effect that exposure to virtual reality has on hospitalized patients reporting at least one discomfort including recent or current moderate-severe pain.

Detailed description

Patients with moderate-severe pain will be approached with approval of nursing staff and front line nurse manager who determine their appropriateness for a trial of virtual reality (VR) exposure for up to 30 minutes. The trial and use of VR will be explained after meeting the inclusion criteria and they will be asked about their level of interest in trying the VR headset. If interested, the subject will indicate their verbal consent to proceed with the VR trial. They will be asked about any baseline discomforts of pain, anxiety/stress or other discomfort; which will be rated on a 0-10 numeric (visual analog) scale. A baseline heart rate will be recorded in beats per minute. The headset will be applied and adjusted for comfort, then the app will be started along with a timer to track the duration of their use up to a maximum of 30 minutes. When the Headset is removed, the duration of use will be noted. The change in post-exposure heart rate (in beats per minute) and discomforts of pain, anxiety/stress or other discomforts (subtracting baseline from 5 minute post-exposure data) will be recorded. Subjects will be asked about the ease of use, whether or not they would use VR again, and for any other comments they would like to express. The headset will be disinfected between patient use.

Interventions

Exposure to Virtual Reality program for up to 30 minutes

Sponsors

Massachusetts General Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
OTHER
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
20 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* English-speaking * Inpatients on a general care unit * Current or recorded moderate to severe pain in past 24 hours

Exclusion criteria

* Receiving palliative/end of life care; * Admitted for treatment of psychiatric or mental health disorder * History of seizure or stroke * Legally blind or deaf * Moderate or severe cognitive impairment * Head wounds or bandages * On isolation precautions.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in PainChange between baseline and 5 minutes after interventionChange in subjective report of pain measured on a visual analog scale

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Heart RateChange between baseline and 5 minutes after interventionChange in heart rate measured in beats per minute
Change in AnxietyChange between baseline and 5 minutes after interventionChange in subjective report of anxiety measured on a visual analog scale

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026