Caregivers, Palliative Care, Quality of Life, Virtual Reality
Conditions
Keywords
Virtual Reality, Palliative Care, Quality of Life, Caregivers
Brief summary
This randomized controlled trial evaluates the efficacy of a culturally adapted virtual reality (VR) nature therapy intervention aimed at improving the quality of life (QOL) and emotional well-being of palliative patients and their family caregivers in Saudi Arabia. The study involves immersive VR sessions depicting natural environments, including Saudi-specific landscapes, delivered to patient-caregiver dyads at home. Outcomes include self-reported QOL measures, psychophysiological parameters, and qualitative feedback.
Detailed description
This randomized controlled trial investigates the impact of immersive Virtual Reality (VR) nature therapy on quality of life and emotional well-being among palliative care patients and their caregivers in Saudi Arabia. The intervention includes culturally adapted, high-fidelity VR nature environments designed to promote psychological comfort, reduce stress, and provide sensory engagement aligned with local preferences. Participants-dyads of patients and their primary caregivers-will be randomly assigned to either the VR intervention group or a waitlist control group. The study explores outcomes such as changes in quality of life, anxiety, and emotional support using validated patient-reported outcome measures. This trial is among the first in the region to evaluate digital interventions for supportive care in palliative settings and aims to inform scalable, culturally relevant approaches to holistic symptom management in advanced illness.
Interventions
DEVICEImmersive Nature VR
The VR intervention will consist of a series of sessions using high-resolution VR headsets and user-friendly handheld controllers. The virtual environments will include six immersive nature scenes-three tailored to Saudi cultural preferences (e.g., desert oases, wadis, and Mecca-related sites), and three universally calming settings (e.g., beach, forest, and mountain landscapes). The intervention is designed to offer therapeutic sensory engagement and emotional respite.
Sponsors
University of Bisha
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
This study will conduct an RCT to evaluate the effectiveness of culturally adapted immersive nature VR interventions for palliative patients and their caregivers in Saudi Arabia. Approximately 100 participants will be randomized into an intervention group, which will receive immersive VR nature therapy sessions, or a control group, which will receive a treatment as usual. The VR intervention will feature six natural environments, tailored to cultural preferences, including Saudi-specific landscapes (e.g., desert oases, wadis, holy sites) alongside universal nature settings (beach, forest, mountains) using high quality VR headsets, equipped with user-friendly controllers. Psycho-physiological biomarkers, such as heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), and breathing patterns, will be measured using brain sensing headband (e.g., MUSE 2 headband).
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Adult patients (≥18 years) receiving palliative care in Saudi Arabia * Primary family caregivers living with and providing daily care to the patient * Ability to provide informed consent * Fluent in Arabic
Exclusion criteria
* Severe cognitive impairment or psychiatric conditions that prevent use of VR * History of epilepsy or vestibular disorders * Inability to understand or follow instructions for using VR equipment
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Quality of Life (PROMIS-29) | Baseline (Week 0) and Week 5 (post-intervention) | The PROMIS-29 assesses health-related quality of life across seven domains: physical function, anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, social participation, and pain interference. Each domain is scored on a standardized T-score scale ranging from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate better functioning for physical function and social participation domains, and worse symptoms for anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain interference, and sleep disturbance. |
| Change in Heart Rate Variability (HRV) | Baseline (Week 0) and Week 5 (Post-intervention) | Heart rate variability (HRV) will be measured using the MUSE 2 headband. HRV metrics will be recorded prior to the first VR session (baseline) and during intervention sessions. Analysis will compare HRV at baseline and at the end of the intervention. Higher HRV values indicate better autonomic nervous system regulation and greater stress resilience. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Caregiver Stress and Emotional State | Baseline (Week 0) and Week 5 (post-intervention) | Caregiver stress and emotional distress will be assessed using validated self-report scales (e.g., perceived stress and emotional distress measures). Higher scores indicate greater levels of stress and emotional burden. |
| Participant Engagement and Satisfaction (Qualitative) | Week 5 (post-intervention) | Semi-structured interviews will be conducted to explore participant engagement, acceptability, emotional impact, and cultural relevance of the VR intervention. Interviews will be conducted by trained research staff and analyzed using qualitative methods |
Contacts
CONTACTMohammed O Alanazi, PhD
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORMohammed O Alanazi, PhD
University of Bisha
Outcome results
None listed