NCT06935604

Healing Hearts of Hospitalized Patients

Healing Hearts of Hospitalized Patients: A Randomized, Non-inferiority Study of Virtual Reality Facilitation

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 200 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Stanford University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 99 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The study aims to study virtual reality (VR) facilitation with adult inpatients using VR as a way to alter pain perception and reduce emotional distress during their hospitalization. Specifically, this study will evaluate the outcomes of patients who experience VR with and without a trained facilitator as a form of escapism.

Conditions

• Pain
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Loneliness

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	VR with a trained facilitator	Intervention Group 1 - VR with a facilitator: Each participant in the intervention group will undergo a structured VR session, consisting of: Duration: 20 minutes Content: Immersive VR experience designed to promote relaxation and reduce pain. Facilitator training: The facilitator group will include trained healthcare professionals skilled in VR technology, C-I-CARE, and empathetic patient engagement. All facilitators also complete the Creative \& Healing Arts Heart-to-Heart training which includes observation, empathy training, and reflection to support complex communication, and companionship needs of adult patients .
BEHAVIORAL	VR without a trained facilitator.	Intervention Group 2 - VR without an inperson facilitator: Each participant in the intervention groups will undergo a structured VR session, consisting of: Duration: 20 minutes Content: Immersive VR experience designed to promote relaxation and reduce pain. Instructional video: A research assistant will use C-I-CARE to give the patient an instructional video and the headset to engage in the VR technology. Patients will take a surveys before and after the intervention

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-10-15
• Primary completion: 2026-09-14
• Completion: 2026-09-14
• First posted: 2025-04-20
• Last updated: 2025-09-26

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States