NCT04029961

Virtual Reality Education Program to Reduce Anxiety During Radiation Therapy

Pilot Study for the Development and Implementation of a Virtual Reality-based Radiation Therapy Education and Anxiety Mitigation Program

• Status: Terminated
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 28 (actual)
• Sponsor: Medical College of Wisconsin · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of an immersive virtual reality (VR)-based education program with a form of patient education commonly provided by clinics (e.g., an educational video) at delivering education to breast cancer patients as they prepare for radiation therapy treatment. Self-evaluation questionnaires completed by participants will be used to measure changes in information needs and anxiety, stress, preparedness and satisfaction levels pre/post education between the VR-based education and video education groups in this study. Expanded access to the current VR-based education program will depend on licensing status for associated assets by interested parties.

Detailed description

Breast cancer patients experience anxiety, potentially reaching levels that are considered clinically-relevant. Prior research in this area has described the information needs of breast cancer patients at different time points as they proceed through the radiotherapy treatment process. Of high importance seems to be addressing patients' information needs through sensory and procedural information as a mechanism of anxiety reduction. The study team created an immersive VR-based education program that enables breast cancer patients to experience the procedure and emotions associated with radiation therapy prior to their actual treatment by offering controlled virtual exposure to the clinical environments involved in the treatment process. An educational video on the process of receiving radiation therapy is considered standard education at the majority of the clinical sites involved in this study. Participants enrolled in this study will be randomly assigned to either the VR-based education group or the video education group. Participation in this project will provide insight into aspects of patient education that are most effective at reducing anxiety and stress levels and meeting patients' information needs when undergoing radiation therapy treatment.

Conditions

• Anxiety
• Stress
• Satisfaction, Patient
• Preparedness
• Information Needs

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Video Education	Prior to their CT simulation, participants will receive education on radiation therapy in the form of a video.
OTHER	VR-based Education	Prior to their CT simulation, participants will receive education on radiation therapy in the form of an immersive VR program delivered through a head-mounted display (HMD).

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-08-12
• Primary completion: 2020-04-14
• Completion: 2020-04-14
• First posted: 2019-07-23
• Last updated: 2021-05-10
• Results posted: 2021-05-10

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States