Use of Virtual Reality Goggles During Chemotherapy Infusion to Reduce Anxiety-Related Symptoms

OHSU Knight Cancer Institute50 enrolled

Overview

This clinical trial evaluates the use of virtual reality (VR) goggles during chemotherapy infusion to reduce anxiety-related symptoms in patients with head and neck, thoracic, hematologic, and breast cancers. Virtual reality headsets provide the ability for users to explore a simulated, three-dimensional environment with which users can interact. In virtual reality users can play interactive games, enjoy relaxing experiences, and watch immersive videos. The use of VR goggles may help with anxiety management during chemotherapy infusion.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. To evaluate the effectiveness of VR therapy in reducing severity of anxiety symptoms during chemotherapy infusion, compared to participants utilizing a smartphone as a control. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To evaluate whether there is a short-term effect of VR use in anxiety levels. II. To assess participant satisfaction with their chemotherapy infusion experience in the control and treatment groups. EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE: I. To assess participants' reported adverse effects associated with VR headset use. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 groups. GROUP 1: Patients use VR during chemotherapy infusion on study. GROUP 2: Patients use smartphone during chemotherapy infusion on study.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Hematopoietic and Lymphoid System Neoplasm

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 89 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * English speaking: Ability to interact with virtual reality content may be impacted by inability to understand English; moreover, paper questionnaires will only be provided in English. * Older than 18 years of age, and younger than 89 years of age. All sexes/gender identities and members of all races and ethnic groups will be included. * Planned to receive chemotherapy infusion for head and neck, breast, thoracic, and hematologic cancers at the Oregon Health \& Science University (OHSU) South Waterfront Center for Health \& Healing building 2 (there are no restrictions related to prior chemotherapy infusions or other cancer treatments). * Chemotherapy treatment lasting at least 10 minutes. * Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent document. Exclusion Criteria: * Social or psychiatric conditions that may interfere with compliance. * Reconstruction, incisions, wounds, wound care, or injury that impact the ability to place on the VR headset. This would limit the ability to utilize the VR headset. * History of seizure or epilepsy. * History of vertigo or persistent dizziness. * Use of cardiac pacemaker, requirement for hearing aid on at all times, or have defibrillators. * Children. * Pregnant women. * Decisionally impaired adults. * Prisoners.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Difference in anxiety levels

Will be assessed in the treatment and control groups determined by the difference in the scores provided by the State Anxiety Inventory before and right after VR use. Range of scores is 20-80, the higher score indicating greater anxiety. Will be compared using two-sample t-test to compare the anxiety levels change before and after VR between intervention group and control group (VR vs control). The effect of VR on anxiety levels will be described using a linear regression model addressing the unanticipated imbalance between treatment groups after randomization adjusting for the confounder.

Time frame: Before the start of chemotherapy infusion and 30-minutes of virtual reality (VR)/smartphone use is completed

Secondary Outcomes

Short-term difference in anxiety levels

Will be assessed by the difference in anxiety levels right before VR use and immediately after chemotherapy infusion is completed as provided by the State Anxiety Inventory using a two sample t-test. Range of scores is 20-80, with a higher score indicating greater anxiety.

Time frame: Before VR goggle use and immediately after chemotherapy infusion is complete

Participants' satisfaction with the VR device

Will be assessed by an investigator-designed satisfaction questionnaire after chemotherapy completion to assess participants' satisfaction with the VR device using descriptive statistics to summarize this data.

Time frame: Immediately after chemotherapy infusion is complete