Virtual reality intervention for advanced cancer pain
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Developing and refining a virtual reality intervention that will help to manage pain for people living with advanced cancer
IRAS ID
342158
Contact name
Nicola White
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2024/04/26, UCL Data protection registration
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 1 days
Research summary
Background
Pain is commonly experienced by people who are living with advanced (incurable) cancer. There is evidence to suggest virtual reality could help to relieve this pain: however, this evidence is poor quality with the intervention poorly defined.Aim
To develop and refine a virtual reality intervention that will help people living with advanced cancer to manage pain.Objectives
1.Explore and establish key components of a virtual reality intervention for people with advanced cancer in terms of effectiveness, acceptability and feasibility using in-depth interviews and focus groups with people living with advanced cancer and experiencing pain.
2.Develop and manualise a virtual reality intervention using co-design methodology.
3.User-test the intervention to refine further.Methods Multi-method design, over three phases:
Phase I.Focus groups or individual interviews with a total of 40 people, from four locations (Brighton, Cardiff, Liverpool, & London), who have advanced cancer and experience pain. They will use the virtual reality intervention and give feedback on what resonated with them and what they would change.
Phase II.Four focus groups (one at each study location) with multiple stakeholders including: healthcare professionals, technology specialists, and people with lived experience. During this stage, the findings from phase 1 will be presented and a manual will be produced that gives guidelines on use of the virtual reality intervention.
Phase III.Up to 20 people living with advanced cancer and pain will user-test the intervention over an eight-week period. During this phase, we will test if/how often the virtual reality is used as part of routine practice in each site and identify any barriers of use.Anticipated Impact and Dissemination
1. A robustly co-designed intervention, ready for testing in a larger trial, to assess the clinical and cost effectiveness of virtual reality as a form of pain management.
2. Guidelines for the use of virtual reality in a clinical setting.The results will be published through academic routes (peer-reviewed publications as well as presented at national and international conferences).
REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/EE/0174
Date of REC Opinion
29 Aug 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion