This study aims to assess changes in pain and anxiety as reported by the Pain Numeric Rating Scale (PNRS) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory 6 (STAI-6), pre and post a guided meditation in Virtual reality. Objectives of the study are also to determine the feasibility, and patient acceptance of utilizing a LLM-generated guided meditation in VR. Our goal is to learn about any limitations of our approach and provide a pathway for future improvements in creating a VR AI therapist that is optimally aligned with the needs of users.
38 individuals who are admitted to CSMC, who have completed Inpatient Pain Service Center intake form, and who have a baseline pain score of 4 on the PNRS or greater to experience VR guided meditation will be invited to join the study. Patients must have a minimum baseline pain score of 4 or higher on the PNRS to be eligible for evaluation in this study because if a patient begins with no or minimal pain, there is no opportunity for the VR meditation program to produce a measurable reduction in pain levels. Patients will wear a VR headset for approximately 15 minutes. The headset fully covers the eyes, immersing users in a calming, 3D virtual environment. Once the headset is on, patients will engage in a guided meditation experience, set in a nature-themed scene of their choice; options include a lake, beach, mountains, desert, forest, space, and more. An AI-powered guide will lead the meditation, offering real-time, personalized support based on the patient's age and the pain-related information provided during the hospital intake process. The AI is designed to promote relaxation by helping patients focus, breathe deeply, and feel more at ease. The intervention will be standardized for all participants, with each receiving the same duration of exposure in the VR headset and access to an identical selection of nature scenes. Participants will complete pre-intervention pain and anxiety surveys which will take 5-10 minutes followed by a 15-minute experience in VR and we will end with a post-intervention pain (PNRS) and anxiety (STAI-6) surveys (5-10 minutes). The total session will range from 25-35 minutes in length. The study is also determine the feasibility, and patient acceptance of utilizing a LLM-generated guided meditation in VR. The goal is to learn about any limitations of our approach and provide a pathway for future improvements in creating a VR AI therapist that is optimally aligned with the needs of users.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
38
Patients will wear a VR headset for approximately 15 minutes. The headset fully covers the eyes, immersing users in a calming, 3D virtual environment. Once the headset is on, patients will engage in a guided meditation experience, set in a nature-themed scene of their choice; options include a lake, beach, mountains, desert, forest, space, and more. An AI-powered guide will lead the meditation, offering real-time, personalized support based on the patient's age and the pain-related information provided during the hospital intake process. The AI is designed to promote relaxation by helping patients focus, breathe deeply, and feel more at ease. The intervention will be standardized for all participants, with each receiving the same duration of exposure in the VR headset and access to an identical selection of nature scenes. The patients will fill our pre and post intervention pain and anxiety surveys. The pre and post surveys will take between 5-10 minutes each to complete.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, California, United States
RECRUITINGPain Numeric Rating Scale Pre and Post VR Guided Meditation
To evaluate impact to pain levels after VR guided meditation (1 time). We will use a validated pain survey and look at Pain Numeric Rating Scale (pre compared to post-VR).
Time frame: Pre VR Use (Baseline) and Post VR Use (after a 15 minutes experience in VR)
STAI-6 Scores Pre and Post VR Guided Meditation
To evaluate anxiety scores pre and post VR guided meditation on the STAI-6.
Time frame: Pre VR use (Baseline) and Post VR use (after 15-minute experience in VR)
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