Dialysis, Virtual Reality
Conditions
Brief summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the use of virtual reality therapy in dialysis patients. The main question it aims to answer is: Does virtual reality improve symptom burden in dialysis patients and improve their mental wellbeing? Over a period of one month, one virtual reality therapy session of 30 minutes will be performed during each regular hemodialysis session. Since we will conduct a monocentric, crossover randomized controlled trial, the participants act as their own control group.
Detailed description
Hemodialysis is a lifesaving therapy for patients with end stage kidney disease but comes with a high burden of physical and emotional symptoms that lower quality of life in dialysis patients. Dialysis mediated complications such as drops in blood pressure, nausea and muscle cramps results in refusal and a negative perception of this treatment. In dialysis patients, treatment-related burden results in deterioration in health related quality of life. During the past few years, Virtual reality (VR) has become more affordable and found its way into households as entertainment electronics but stepwise also into medicine. VR enables the user to view, interact and be immersed in a multisensory 3D virtual world. The aim of the current study is to reduce dialysis-related burden of symptoms by using virtual reality therapy during regular dialysis sessions and thereby improve quality of life among dialysis patients.
Interventions
OTHERvirtual reality therapy
A virtual reality therapy will be applied for 30 minutes. Patients will be wearing the glasses while lying in bed/chair during their regular dialysis session. Vital signs will be monitored repeatedly. At defined times, patients are asked to answer various questionnaires about their physical and mental health.
Sponsors
David Blum
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Older than 18 years; * in treatment with thrice-weekly hemodialysis sessions; * regular hemodialysis duration of three to five hours * having no visual impairment * having no acoustic deficit * patient must be capable of speaking and understanding German or English * no signs of cognitive impairment * patient oriented in time and space * being able to give informed consent as documented by signature
Exclusion criteria
* diagnosis of epilepsy * current pregnancy
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reduction of symptom burden of dialysis patients and improvement of their mental wellbeing | 10 weeks | questionnaire |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluation of the effects of virtual reality therapy during hemodialysis on heart rate | 10 weeks | Heart rate (beats per minute) |
| Evaluation of the effects of virtual reality therapy during hemodialysis on blood pressure | 10 weeks | Blood pressure (mm Hg) |
| To assess the acceptability and appropriateness of using VRT during hemodialysis from the perspectives of patients | 10 weeks | questionnaire |
| To assess the acceptability and appropriateness of using VRT during hemodialysis from the perspectives of clinical staff | 10 weeks | questionnaire |
| To test the internal consistency of the ESAS-r: Renal Score | 10 weeks | Cronbach's alpha |
Countries
Switzerland
Contacts
Primary ContactDavid Blum, Prof.
Backup ContactSTefan Pelz, Dr. med.
Outcome results
None listed