Randomized Controlled Trial of Virtual Reality for GI Cancer Pain to Improve Patient Reported Outcomes

Who is this study for? Patients with Visceral Pain From a Digestive Tract Malignancy
What treatments are being studied? PICO G2 4k
Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Device
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY

Patients with digestive tract malignancy often experience severe and unremitting abdominal pain that negatively affects physical, emotional, and social function, as well as health related quality of life (HRQOL). Therapeutic virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising and evidence-based treatment modality for cancer pain. Users of VR wear a pair of goggles with a close-proximity screen in front of the eyes that creates a sensation of being transported into lifelike, three-dimensional worlds. To date, VR has been limited to short-term clinical trials for cancer pain. Moreover, limited research exists on theory-based VR modalities beyond mere distraction, such as VR that employs acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) with components of biofeedback and mindfulness. To bridge these gaps, this study seeks to: (1) assess the impact of immersive VR on patient-reported outcomes (PROs), including pain, activity metrics, and opioid use among patients with visceral pain from a digestive tract malignancy; (2) assess differences in PROs, activity metrics, and opioid use between skills-based VR therapy vs. distraction VR therapy; and (3) determine patient-level predictors of VR treatment response in visceral cancer pain. To address these aims, the study will measure PROs and opioid use in 360 patients randomized among 3 groups and follow them for 60 days after enrollment: (1) an enhanced VR group receiving skills-based VR; (2) a distraction-based VR group receiving patient-selected VR videos; and (3) a VR sham control group using a VR headset with 2-D content. The results will inform best practices for the implementation of VR for visceral cancer pain management and guide selection of patient-tailored experiences.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 18
Maximum Age: 99
Healthy Volunteers: f
View:

• Have a primary malignancy of the biliary tract, colon, liver, pancreas, peritoneum, rectum, small intestine, or stomach, with no plan for resection during the study period

• Tumor types including, but not limited to, adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, neuroendocrine tumors, and tumors of mesenchymal origin will be eligible

• Have clinically significant visceral pain, measured using the standardized NIH PROMIS GI Pain Scale defined as scoring at least 5 points above the nationally normed score

• Ability to read and write in English

Locations
United States
California
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
RECRUITING
Los Angeles
Contact Information
Primary
Antwon Chaplin
antwon.chaplin@cshs.org
3102486790
Backup
Karisma Suchak, MD
karisma.suchak@cshs.org
3104230714
Time Frame
Start Date: 2021-10-05
Estimated Completion Date: 2026-02-16
Participants
Target number of participants: 360
Treatments
Experimental: Virtual Reality Program A
This arm will include software that provides immersive skills-based content for pain reduction.
Experimental: Virtual Reality Program B
This arm will include software that provides immersive distraction based content for pain reduction.
Sham_comparator: Virtual Reality Program C
This arm will include software that provides nonimmersive distraction based content for pain reduction.
Sponsors
Collaborators: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Leads: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov