Immersive Multimedia as an Adjunctive Measure for Pain Control in Cancer Patients

Summary

This study seeks to explore the efficacy of immersive multimedia experiences as a practical adjunctive therapeutic intervention in the self-management of the chronic pain associated with cancer patients. A comparative controlled interventional trial and qualitative interpretative-descriptive exploration will be undertaken with 100 cancer patients who are experiencing chronic pain. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a virtual reality (VR) therapy group or a 2D computer based multimedia control group (50 subjects in each).

They will undertake either a series of VR interventions, or 2D computer based multimedia control sessions in their own homes over a period of a month. The intervention will be used daily for a month to enable customization to the therapy and record data over a long enough period of time to account for any individual short-term changes in pain.

The VR sessions will consist of using a VR head mounted display (HMD) and computer to explore interactive immersive environments. The control group will be exposed to similar 2D computer based multimedia experiences (without a VR headset) that on home computers. Pre, during, and post pain test scores and quality of sleep assessments will be recorded using standardized tools.

In addition to the primary study, a sub-study will be conducted where ten of the subjects who demonstrated the most improvement in their pain using the VR experience will be selected and invited to explore for any measurable changes in neurological activity using pre and post exposure electroencephalography (EEG).

Conditions

• Chronic Pain
• Cancer

Interventions

DEVICE

Virtual Reality Headset

The following VR experiences will be used: Virtual Meditative Walk: http://painstudieslab.com/projects/virtual-meditative-walk/ Wildflowers: https://appadvice.com/app/wildflowers-mindfulness/988835763 Obduction: http://obduction.com/ Carpe Lucem: http://store.steampowered.com/app/433700/Carpe\_Lucem\_\_Seize\_The\_Light\_VR/

OTHER

2D PC

The control group will be exposed to 2D equivalent versions of the same multimedia experiences but on their PC screen (without the VR headset use). These will be functionally similar to the VR experiences. These will include: Virtual Meditative Walk: http://painstudieslab.com/projects/virtual-meditative-walk/ Wildflowers: https://appadvice.com/app/wildflowers-mindfulness/988835763 Obduction: http://obduction.com/ The Witness: http://store.steampowered.com/app/210970/

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Lotte & John Hecht Memorial Foundation

  collaborator OTHER

• Simon Fraser University

  collaborator OTHER

• Fraser Health

  collaborator OTHER

• University of British Columbia

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Bernard M Garrett, Ph.D. · University of British Columbia - School of Nursing

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

16 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-07-31

Primary Completion

2022-12-31

Completion

2022-12-31

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations