Virtual Reality Therapy to Improve Physical and Psychological Symptoms and Quality of Life for End-of-life Patients on a Palliative Care Unit

Summary

People with advanced and life-threatening illnesses experience challenges across multiple domains of function including physical, psychological, social, and spiritual. The benefits of non-pharmacological interventions for palliative care patients are well recognized, but are relatively under-utilized. Virtual Reality (VR) therapy may help address these challenges and be a valuable addition to the current therapies used in palliative care.

VR is a computer generated, three-dimensional environment that individuals can explore and interact with using specialized equipment such as a head-mounted display with internal sensors. VR has been increasingly adapted for applications in healthcare, as a simulation for medical training and an intervention tool to impact pain management, stress and anxiety. VR has the potential to improve both physical and psychological symptoms in patients with terminal illnesses.

The current study is a small randomized controlled trial to understand the impact of VR on physical symptoms, psychological symptoms and quality of life in patients at the end of life. Participants will be randomized to a single comparator session, single session of standard VR, or single session of personalized VR. The comparator arm will consist of participants viewing an ordinary two-dimensional video on an iPad such as a peaceful nature scene. The standard VR arm will consist of participants viewing a "bucket list" experience self-selected from a VR library i.e. an experience the participant desires but has never experienced. The personalized VR arm will consist of participants viewing content that is personally meaningful to them. This content will be obtained through either a) family/friends creating a personalized video (e.g. video footage of their summer cottage) or b) the participant will select an experience from the VR library that is personally meaningful (e.g. visiting their honeymoon destination, exploring their childhood hometown, etc.) if option a) is not possible.

Participants will complete self-report questionnaires about their physical and psychological symptoms and quality of life before and after the intervention (two days and seven days post intervention). Participants will also complete a feedback survey to evaluate their satisfaction with the intervention. Surveys will be administered by the research assistant.

Conditions

• End-of-Life
• Physical Suffering
• Psychological Distress

Interventions

OTHER

Standardized Virtual Reality

This is a one session intervention, where participants will be asked to wear a VR headset and view a three-dimensional standard VR video. The activity session will be approximately 15 minutes in length. Prior to starting the intervention, the therapeutic recreation staff will explain the activity and familiarize participants with the VR headset.

OTHER

Control

This is a one session intervention, where participants will be asked to view a two-dimensional video on an iPad. The activity session will be approximately 15 minutes in length. Prior to starting the activity session, the therapeutic recreation staff will explain the activity.

OTHER

Personalized Virtual Reality

This is a one session intervention, where participants will be asked to wear a VR headset and view a three-dimensional personalized VR video. The activity session will be approximately 15 minutes in length. Prior to starting the intervention, the therapeutic recreation staff will explain the activity and familiarize participants with the VR headset.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Baycrest

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Ginah Kim, MD · Baycrest

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

55 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-06-15

Primary Completion

2023-02-07

Completion

2023-02-07

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations