Augmented Virtual Reality for Reducing Pain, Stress, Anxiety and Improve Self Efficacy in Adult Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy in The West Bank

Overview

The main purpose of this study is to examine the effect of using AVR on pain, stress, anxiety, and SE among adult cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in the West Bank hospitals in Palestine. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. What is the effect of AVR therapy on pain levels score compared with routine care during chemotherapy session among cancer patients? 2. What is the effect of AVR therapy on the stress levels compared with routine care during chemotherapy session among cancer patients? 3. What is the effect of AVR therapy on the anxiety compared with routine care during chemotherapy session among cancer patients? 4. What is the effect of AVR therapy on the general SE compared with routine care during chemotherapy session among cancer patients? The participants divided into two groups, the intervention group, which receives AVR, and the control group, which receives standard treatment. The study used a pretest and posttest design to assess the effect of AVR on the study variables (pain, stress, anxiety and self-efficacy).

This study was designed as a randomized control trial (RCT), including both pretest and posttest assessments. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group, which received AR, or the control group, which received standard treatment. Random assignment was conducted using a computer-generated list of patients scheduled for chemotherapy, with patients alternately assigned to the intervention and control group (e.g., patient number 1 to the intervention group, number 2 to the control group). This process was managed by a nurse who was blinded to the study protocol. Due to the nature of the study, the researchers were not blinded. The study was conducted in three large hospitals in northern Palestine that specialized in oncology care, particularly within their chemotherapy units. The sample consisted of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in the aforementioned hospitals. Pretests, interventions, and posts were conducted .Inclusion criteria were cancer patients (over 18 years old) who required chemotherapy and could provide informed consent in Arabic. Exclusion criteria included a history of VR motion sickness, physical or cognitive limitations preventing VR headset use, visual, auditory, or vestibular impairments, uncontrolled severe medical conditions (e.g., vomiting, nausea, respiratory depression), pediatric patients, cognitive impairments, and any mental or psychological disorders. Questionnaires were used to gather the data. It consists of three sections: Sociodemographic data: composed of age gender, resident area, marital status, type of cancer, number of chemotherapy sessions, and medical data the variables assessed used the below tool 1. Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS): This scale was developed for assessing the pain scale. 2. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) 3. Generalized Anxiety disorder (GAD-7) The GAD-7 A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. 4. General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) The scale is designed to assess a person's optimistic self-beliefs used to cope with life's demands Data Collection Process Data were collected from June to September 2023. Ethical approval was obtained from the Arab American University and the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The data collection process began with a meeting with the head of the chemotherapy unit to compile a list of eligible patients. Randomization ensured equal chance of participants for all eligible patients The study was conducted in two phases to prevent contamination between groups: Phase one (Control Group): Patients received routine chemotherapy sessions without VR. Before and after the sessions, they completed the pre and post-test questionnaires. Phase two (Intervention Group): patients received VR during their chemotherapy sessions. Pre and post-test questionnaires were administered before and after the VR sessions. Both groups completed the questionnaires during their regular visits to the chemotherapy units. The post-intervention assessment measured levels of stress and anxiety using the same questionnaires as the pretest. Once participants prepared for chemotherapy infusion, investigator provided them with the VR headset with a brief overview of how the hardware worked. This includes details on how to navigate the interface, and which apps were available for use during the intervention. Participants completed a brief survey through a self-administered questionnaire to assess their levels of stress and anxiety. The participants chose to experience which video they would like to watch mountains, rivers, sea, and mountain falls. Participants were provided with a Meta Quest 2 headset (KW49CM), equipped with high-resolution displays and paired with the Meta-Quest iOS app (version 192.0). Patients were given a brief overview of how to use the hardware and could choose from soothing virtual environments such as mountains, rivers, and waterfalls. A pilot study was conducted on 15 patients meeting the study criteria. The pilot aimed to test the feasibility and reliability of the study design.