NCT05197894

Virtual Reality for Improving Symptoms in Palliative Care

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 15 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Western University, Canada · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The objective of this study is to determine whether VR can ameliorate symptoms for palliative care patients within a hospice setting. We also aim to verify the efficacy with a larger sample size than previously shown, as well as extend the population to include non-cancer patients receiving Hospice care. We will further attempt to delineate whether there is a sustainability of symptomatic improvement one week after VR experiences.

Detailed description

Potential candidates will be provided with our assent and consent information form and the study will be explained to them in detail prior to gaining consent. As per standard practice at The Hospice of Windsor \& Essex County, palliative care ESAS symptoms will be measured at baseline during the week prior to the VR experience. The mean of these pre-VR scores will be calculated as a baseline, optimally 3 separate ESAS scores in the preceding week. ESAS symptoms and expectations/satisfaction will then be measured immediately before and after the VR experience. An average set of ESAS scores will then be calculated in the same manner for one week post VR as per baseline pre-VR scores above. We expect to find a decrease in Palliative Care symptoms after the intervention of a VR experience.

Conditions

• Cancer and Non-cancer Hospice Patients

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Virtual Reality	The intervention is a Virtual Reality experience within a selected application using an Oculus Quest 2 ©, as previously in the relevant intervention arm.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-08-01
• Primary completion: 2024-06-01
• Completion: 2024-06-30
• First posted: 2022-01-20
• Last updated: 2024-05-07

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada