Virtual Reality (VR) for Needle Fears
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Virtual Reality (VR) for Needle Fears: A Cohort Study and a Randomised Controlled Trial of an Automated VR Therapy for the Treatment of Needle Fears (trypanophobia)
IRAS ID
334022
Contact name
Daniel Freeman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford Research Governance, Ethics and Assurance Team
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 30 days
Research summary
Background:
The hypodermic needle - used to inject substances (e.g. medications, vaccinations) or extract fluids (e.g. blood) in clinical procedures – may be the most important medical device invented. Billions of needles are used worldwide each year. However a significant minority of the population are very fearful of needles. This can make medical procedures unpleasant. It can also lead to avoidance of vaccination, blood donation and tests, and uptake of treatments. Fear of needles is especially high in children and adolescents. Needle fear can be successfully treated using psychological therapy (graded exposure and applied tension) but because of a shortage of therapists very few people are able to access such help.Aim:
Working with adolescents with needle fears, we have automated the delivery of evidence-based psychological therapy for needle fear within virtual reality (VR). A virtual coach guides users through the therapy. As such, the therapy can be supported by a range of professionals, for example, nurses or school pastoral staff. We now wish to assess the effectiveness for young people (ages 12-16 years) of this automated VR therapy for needle fear.Methods:
The project has two elements:
1. Initial clinical testing. 12 young people with needle fear will receive the VR therapy. They will be assessed before and after completing the intervention. If there is evidence of improvement in the needle fear then we will proceed to the full clinical trial.
2. Full clinical trial. The VR therapy for needle fear will be tested in a randomised controlled trial. 100 young people reporting significant needle fears will be randomised to receive the VR therapy or the control group. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, end of therapy (two weeks), and at follow-up (six weeks). We will offer the VR therapy to young people in the control group after their participation.REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/SC/0420
Date of REC Opinion
15 Dec 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion