Virtual Reality for Cancer Surgery

Overseen By Renee El-Gabalawy, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Manitoba

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this study is to assess the feasibility of an expanded virtual reality (VR) intervention designed to help prepare patients for cancer surgery. This study will: (1) assess the investigator's ability to recruit, retain, and engage participants, (2) evaluate how acceptable participants find the intervention through their feedback on its individual components. The investigators will also explore whether baseline anxiety levels or psychiatric history predict responses to the intervention, as well as look for any changes in perioperative anxiety and monitoring for any adverse effects associated with the intervention. This study will also investigate engagement of providing participants with a first-person VR session recordings to determine utility and whether post-session access is perceived as beneficial. Finally, preliminary pilot outcomes will examine whether increased engagement in the VR results in reductions in anxiety on the day of surgery.

Who Is on the Research Team?

Renee El-Gabalawy, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Manitoba

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for patients preparing for cancer surgery who are interested in trying a virtual reality (VR) intervention to reduce preoperative anxiety. Participants should be willing to provide feedback on the VR experience and have their anxiety levels monitored.

Inclusion Criteria

Patients will be deemed eligible for inclusion if they: (a) are 18 years of age or older; (b) are able to speak and read English; (c) have received a cancer diagnosis; and (d) are scheduled, or in the process of being scheduled to undergo oncological surgery under general anesthesia at the Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg. Patients will be deemed ineligible if they are unable to provide informed consent (e.g., due to cognitive impairment) or if they have any visual, auditory and/or motor impairments that would preclude effective participation in the Virtual Reality intervention

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Virtual Reality

Trial Overview

The study tests a VR program designed to prepare patients for cancer surgery, aiming to lower their anxiety before the operation. It will measure how well participants accept the VR, its impact on anxiety levels, and if providing recordings of sessions offers any extra benefits.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Self-directed group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants assigned to this group will be instructed to review the standardized VR intervention recording as little or as much as they would like, following their in-person session and continuing up to their scheduled surgery date.

Group II: Daily Viewing Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants assigned to this group will be instructed to review the standardized VR intervention recording daily, following their in-person session and continuing up to their scheduled surgery date.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Manitoba

Lead Sponsor

Trials

628

Recruited

209,000+