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Distraction Therapy Using Virtual Reality in Cardiac Rehabilitation

NCT06898827 · Status: ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 20

Last updated 2025-03-27

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The European Society of Cardiology has been putting forward the need for new adjuncts or models that optimise outcomes from CR programmes. Immersive virtual reality (IVR) is one of the newest technologies whose input in CR is currently being investigated. It is a technology which helps simulate the real environment through a virtual one, allowing for interaction with the environment and to carry out exercise with variability, where intensity, repetition and feedback are key elements. It is reported that immersion in VR environments diverts the attention of the patient from unpleasant bodily sensations, thus delaying the onset of boredom and fatigue. This is reported to possibly incite higher participation. In addition, VR has some noticeable indirect benefits for postcardiac event patients. It is reported that when using head-mounted devices during stationary cycling, a reduction in sympathetic tone and thus increase blood flow to the muscles prolonging the exercise duration and enhancing fatigue resistance will result. The use of distraction therapy through VR, one which isolates the patients from the medical context and puts all the attention on the virtual experience, makes the patient be distracted from the unpleasant stimuli of the surrounding environment. Distraction therapy through VR is reported to provide positive emotions, reduce anxiety and lead to an underestimation of the treatment duration.

Conditions

  • Cardiac Disease
  • Coronary Artery Bypass

Interventions

PROCEDURE

IVR using the Morpheus Programme

Patients in the intervention group will receive 20 mins of immersive therapy during cardiac rehabilitation

PROCEDURE

Cardiac Rehabilitation control group

Cardiac rehabilitation but no IVR

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Malta

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Dr Anabel Sciriha, PhD · University of Malta

  • Dr Stephen Lungaro-Mifsud, PhD · University of Malta

  • Dr Tonio Agius, PhD · University of Malta

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
40 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2024-09-01
Primary Completion
2025-06-30
Completion
2025-06-30

Countries

  • Malta

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06898827 on ClinicalTrials.gov