Virtual Reality for Symptom Management in Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Launched by ROSWELL PARK CANCER INSTITUTE · Jan 27, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring how virtual reality (VR) can help manage the symptoms of patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), a treatment for certain blood cancers and disorders. Patients often experience tough symptoms like anxiety, depression, pain, and fatigue during their hospital stay. The trial compares using VR, which offers a fun and immersive escape, to standard care. VR has been shown to distract and improve overall well-being by engaging the senses and may help ease these distressing symptoms.

To participate in this study, you need to be an adult, at least 18 years old, and scheduled for HSCT at Roswell Park. You should be able to understand and agree to participate in the study by signing a consent form. This trial is currently recruiting participants, and you can expect to spend at least a week in the hospital. However, if you have certain health issues like severe infections, brain metastases, or if you have difficulties with motion sickness, you might not be eligible. This trial aims to find out if VR can make your hospital experience more comfortable and improve your quality of life during a challenging time.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Adult patients (≥ 18 years old) admitted to Roswell Park on 5 North for planned hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)
• • Must be alert and oriented (Glascow Coma Scale of 15, Nursing Universal Flowsheet) and able to consent to participate in the study
• • Expected to be admitted to Roswell Park inpatient unit for ≥ 1 week
• • Participant must understand the investigational nature of this study and sign an Independent Ethics Committee/Institutional Review Board approved written informed consent form prior to receiving any study related procedure
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Participants with known brain metastases should be excluded from this clinical trial because of their poor prognosis and because they often develop progressive neurologic dysfunction that would confound the evaluation of neurologic and other adverse events
• • Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
• • Pregnant patients
• • Incarcerated patients
• • Patients who are unwilling or unable to follow protocol requirements
• • Individuals that are prone to motion sickness, nausea, dizziness, history of seizure, potential for seizure, history of delirium, at risk for confusion, etc
• • Participants with audio and/or visual impairments that would preclude them from using a VR device