Visual and Auditory Distraction for the Relief of Pain and Anxiety

Launched by REGION SKANE · Jun 13, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This trial is studying whether using virtual reality (VR) distraction during bone marrow aspiration or biopsy can lower pain and anxiety compared with the standard procedure. Adults (18 and older) who are having a bone marrow test, as well as healthy volunteers undergoing the same procedure for comparison, may be eligible. Participants are randomly assigned to either the VR distraction group or the usual care group. The study plans to enroll about 110 patients in the randomized part (roughly 55 in each group), along with baseline studies that involve healthy volunteers, and it’s being conducted at Skåne University Hospital in Lund, Sweden.

If you participate, you might wear a VR headset with headphones during the procedure (the content can be a story, nature scene, or mindfulness), chosen to fit your preferences. The researchers will measure pain and stress during the procedure using objective sensors and will ask you to fill out short questionnaires right after the exam about pain, anxiety, and overall health. They may also interview some participants and staff to learn more about the experience. The trial uses standard, validated tools to assess nociception (pain signals) and self-reported pain and anxiety. This study is not FDA-regulated, no individual data will be shared publicly, and results are expected to be analyzed and published over the next few years, with potential changes to practice after 2029 if VR proves helpful.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Adult (≥18 years) patients
• • Adult (≥18 years) healthy volunteers without a hematological diagnosis undergoing bone marrow examination (aspiration and/or biopsy) at the Hematology Out-Patient Care Unit at SUS in Lund, Sweden.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Individuals who cannot understand information and instructions
• • Pregnant women
• • Persons with skin injuries at the bone marrow examination site
• • Those unable to lie on their side
• • hearing and/or severe vision impairment
• • those prone to motion sickness
• • participation in the study during a previous bone marrow examination