Virtual Reality As Adjunct Therapy for Vaso-Occlusive Pain

Launched by LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER IN NEW ORLEANS · Jan 13, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring whether virtual reality (VR) can help reduce pain in children with sickle cell disease who are experiencing painful episodes known as vaso-occlusive crises. The main goal is to see if using VR during their hospital stay can lessen the severity of their pain and decrease their need for opioid pain medications. Researchers will compare the standard pain treatment with a new approach that includes VR sessions to find out if this technology can make a difference in managing pain.

To participate, children aged 8 to 21 years who are being admitted to the hospital for pain management may be eligible. They will be asked to complete pain surveys three times a day for up to three days. If they are chosen to use the VR therapy, they will enjoy an immersive experience once a day along with completing additional surveys to check for any side effects. This study is currently recruiting participants, and parental consent will be required for those under 18. This trial not only seeks to improve pain management but also aims to enhance the overall hospital experience for these young patients.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Patient ≥ 8 up to 21 years of age
• • 2. Presenting to CHNOLA ER or outside facility with chief complaint of vaso-occlusive pain crisis, requiring inpatient admission for further pain management
• • 3. No known cognitive or neurological deficits
• • 4. Parental/guardian permission (informed consent) and if appropriate, child assent.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Patients aged 7-years-old and younger.
• • 2. Patents upon admission found to have sequela of their sickle cell disease that would require medical therapy greater than the standard of care for a vaso-occlusive pain event. This includes acute chest syndrome, splenic sequestration, post-operative pain, and/or cerebrovascular accident
• • 3. Patients who are developmentally or cognitively incapable of using VR equipment and answering questions appropriately
• • 4. Failure to obtain or refusal to provide parental/guardian permission (informed consent) and if appropriate child assent
• • 5. Patient has previously participated in the study
• • 6. Study team is unable to initiate study interventions within the first 24 hours of a patient's admission