Virtual Reality Storytelling for Anxiety
(STM Trial)
Trial Summary
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial does not specify if participants must stop taking their current medications, but children on psychotropic medications (drugs affecting mood, perception, or behavior) are excluded from participating.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment StoryTelling Medicine Application (STM) for anxiety?
Research shows that storytelling in medicine can improve understanding and empathy between patients and healthcare providers, which may help reduce anxiety. Additionally, storytelling has been used to enhance patient satisfaction and safety, suggesting it could be beneficial in managing anxiety.12345
How is the StoryTelling Medicine Application treatment different from other anxiety treatments?
The StoryTelling Medicine Application is unique because it uses virtual reality (VR) storytelling to engage users in a narrative experience, which can help externalize and rescript anxiety. Unlike traditional treatments, this approach leverages immersive VR technology to create an interactive and participatory environment, potentially enhancing the therapeutic effects for anxiety relief.678910
What is the purpose of this trial?
Preoperative anxiety (PA) affects up to 5 million children in North America each year and is associated with adverse medical, psychological, and behavioral effects. Children who are highly anxious often require more medications during surgical procedures and take longer to recover. While many attempts have been made to reduce PA in children, existing interventions are limited by their expense and time intensive nature. Thus, the current lack of effective and efficient methods of reducing anxiety in children before and after surgery has prompted us to develop and propose to test a new intervention. The investigators have developed a novel,interactive tablet based Virtual Reality program, StoryTelling Medicine (STM), to help reduce anxiety in children undergoing elective surgery, and its associated negative effects.STM is an age appropriate, customizable program to prepare children for complex surgical procedures by guiding them through the hospital settings. The investigators will examine if STM is effective in reducing PA and its adverse effects in children undergoing surgery. If effective, STM has the potential to improve children's and families' surgical experiences, and reduce health problems in the hospital setting and beyond.
Research Team
Desigen Reddy, MD
Principal Investigator
Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for children aged 8-13 who are scheduled for outpatient surgery like tonsillectomy or herniorrhaphy. It's not suitable for kids with chronic illnesses, neurodevelopmental disorders, or those on psychotropic medications before the study starts.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Preoperative Preparation
Children use the StoryTelling Medicine (STM) virtual reality program to reduce preoperative anxiety
Surgery and Immediate Postoperative Care
Children undergo elective surgery and immediate postoperative care is provided
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for postoperative behavior and recovery outcomes
Treatment Details
Interventions
- StoryTelling Medicine Application
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
McMaster University
Lead Sponsor