Clinical Research Directory

Enhancing Pain Management Among Patients Diagnosed With Stage III and Stage IV of Breast Cancer: The Power of Immersive and Non-Immersive Virtual Reality-Driven Interactive Guided Imagery

Sponsor: Middle East University

Summary

Cancer-related pain is one of the most common and distressing symptoms experienced by patients with advanced cancer, particularly among women diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. Pain associated with cancer may arise from tumor progression, metastasis, or cancer treatments, and it often has a substantial negative impact on patients' physical functioning, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life. Although pharmacological pain management strategies remain the primary approach for managing cancer-related pain, many patients continue to report inadequate pain relief or experience undesirable side effects from medications. For this reason, healthcare providers and researchers are increasingly exploring complementary and non-pharmacological interventions that can be used alongside standard pain management strategies. Current clinical practice for cancer pain management commonly follows the analgesic ladder recommended by the World Health Organization, which involves a stepwise approach using non-opioid analgesics, weak opioids, and strong opioids depending on the severity of the patient's pain. While this approach has significantly improved pain control in many patients, it does not completely eliminate pain in all cases, and additional supportive interventions are often required. In recent years, digital health technologies such as virtual reality (VR) have emerged as promising tools that may support pain management through distraction, relaxation, and cognitive engagement. Virtual reality is an interactive computer-generated environment that can simulate real or imaginary settings and allow users to experience immersive or semi-immersive sensory stimulation. VR-based interventions have gained increasing attention in healthcare due to their potential to reduce pain perception by diverting attention away from painful stimuli and promoting psychological relaxation. In particular, VR-assisted guided imagery interventions have been proposed as a therapeutic approach that combines visual and auditory stimuli with relaxation techniques to enhance patients' cognitive engagement and emotional comfort. VR technology can be delivered through different levels of immersion. Immersive VR typically uses a head-mounted display to create a fully interactive three-dimensional environment that surrounds the user and blocks out external stimuli, providing a highly engaging experience. In contrast, non-immersive VR systems present virtual environments through computer screens or similar devices, allowing users to remain aware of their physical surroundings while interacting with digital content. Although both approaches may contribute to pain reduction through distraction and relaxation mechanisms, limited evidence exists regarding the comparative effectiveness of immersive versus non-immersive VR interventions in the management of cancer-related pain. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of immersive and non-immersive virtual reality-assisted guided imagery interventions in reducing cancer-related pain among patients with advanced breast cancer in Jordan. The study aims to determine whether these interventions can provide additional benefits when used alongside standard cancer pain management practices. This study will employ a quantitative quasi-experimental pre-post design with three study groups: an immersive virtual reality intervention group, a non-immersive virtual reality-assisted guided imagery group, and a control group receiving standard cancer pain management care. Participants in both intervention groups will engage in a 45-minute virtual reality session consisting of guided imagery experiences designed to promote relaxation and distraction from pain. The immersive VR group will use head-mounted display technology to experience a fully immersive 360-degree virtual environment, while the non-immersive VR group will view similar virtual content using a computer-based display system with audio support. Pain intensity will be measured using the Arabic version of the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) before the intervention and immediately after the intervention. In addition, symptoms associated with simulator sickness, such as nausea, dizziness, and visual discomfort, will be assessed using the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) to evaluate the safety and tolerability of the VR interventions. The study will be conducted among adult patients diagnosed with advanced breast cancer who are receiving care at a cancer pain management clinic in a large public hospital in Jordan. Eligible participants will be adults aged 18 years or older who are experiencing cancer-related pain and are able to participate in the intervention sessions. A total of 90 participants will be recruited and allocated equally across the three study groups. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the growing body of evidence regarding the role of virtual reality technologies in suppo

Official title: Enhancing Pain Management Among Patients Diagnosed With Stage III and Stage IV of Breast Cancer: The Power of Non-Immersive Virtual Reality-Driven Interactive Guided Imagery: A Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

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