Clinical Research Directory

Virtual Reality Distraction for Pain and Anxiety in Hemodialysis Patients

1. Assess pain and anxiety levels in hemodialysis patients during arteriovenous fistula needle insertion. 2. Determine the effect of the distraction technique using virtual reality on pain and anxiety levels during arteriovenous fistula needle insertion in hemodialysis patients. 3. Find out the differences in the level of pain and anxiety after using virtual reality with regard to the demographic and clinical data of the sample.

VR Effects After Hip Replacement Surgery Pain

Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA), a procedure performed to enhance the quality of life, is accompanied by postoperative challenges such as pain and anxiety that adversely affect patient comfort. Inadequate management of these complications can prolong the length of hospital stay, delay recovery, lead to functional impairments, and elevate the risk of chronic pain development. Conventional pharmacological interventions employed for management are limited due to their potential for adverse effects and dependency. Virtual reality (VR) is a non-pharmacological distraction technique utilized in the healthcare sector, leveraging advanced technology to maximize patient comfort by alleviating pain and minimizing anxiety. A review of the literature reveals that while the use of VR has positive effects on pain and anxiety, there is a notable scarcity of high-quality randomized controlled trials concurrently evaluating its impact on pain, anxiety, and comfort levels in postoperative orthopedic procedures such as THA. In this randomized controlled trial, participants in the control group will receive standard care, whereas those in the experimental group will receive a 30-minute VR intervention-offering three distinct options-in addition to standard care during the acute phase of the first 48 hours. Postoperative assessments will be conducted using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain intensity, the State Anxiety Inventory for anxiety levels, and the Perianesthesia Comfort Scale for comfort levels. By evaluating the potential of VR as a non-pharmacological adjuvant in post-THA care, the findings of this study will provide significant contributions to evidence-based nursing practices aimed at developing multimodal pain management strategies, reducing opioid consumption, and enhancing patient satisfaction.

The Effect of Virtual Reality and Binaural Beats on Pain, Anxiety, and Vital Signs During Cystoscopy

This study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of nature videos viewed through virtual reality goggles and binaural beat audio played during cystoscopy on pain, anxiety, and vital signs. The study was conducted between September 2025 and December 2025 with 60 patients who applied to the cystoscopy unit of a public hospital in Istanbul and met the inclusion criteria. Patients in the experimental group (n=30) were shown nature videos using virtual reality goggles and listened to binaural beats through headphones, while patients in the control group (n=30) received no intervention other than routine care. Research data were collected using the Patient Introduction Form, Visual Analog Scale, State Anxiety Scale, and Vital Findings Form. It was determined that nature videos and binaural beats played through virtual reality goggles during cystoscopy reduced patients' pain and anxiety levels and positively affected their vital signs.

Effectiveness of Virtual Reality (VR) in the Management of Anxiety for Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use and functionality of virtual reality (VR) during radiation therapy treatments for patients with prostate, breast, lung, or head and neck cancer.

Neural Mechanisms of Immersive Virtual Reality in Chronic Pain (VR TMD EEG)

This project examines, in chronic pain, the mechanisms of immersive virtual reality compared to the mechanisms of placebo hypoalgesia. The potential of developing new non-pharmacological premises for low-risk interventions for pain management is high.

Virtual Reality Within Palliative Care (VR-SPC)

Literature so far shows VR is largely acceptable and feasible to use in palliative care settings, especially for improving patient wellbeing and mental health. However, limited research exists for understanding the effectiveness of VR, especially if sessions are repeated or offered jointly with patient carers or companions. We aim to investigate the effectiveness of VR for achieving personally meaningful goals (including but not limited to relaxation, bucket-list activities, and improving wellbeing). This study will be offered to patients and their companions receiving palliative care at a hospice in England. Informed consent will be acquired after a participant information sheet has been shared with interested participants. Personal goals of VR use will be established at the start of the study with baseline mental health and wellbeing data collection. Up to 3 VR sessions will be offered. Before and after each session patients will be asked to complete questionnaires to track wellbeing and progression towards intended goals for utilising VR. A change interview will occur between 1 to 4 weeks after the final VR session to discuss their overall experiences of VR and will include repeated follow up questionnaires. Participants that which to engage with a joint-VR intervention with their companion (referred to as participant companions for the purposes of this study), will also require informed consent and completion of questionnaires and interview attendance to be involved with this study. Results will be gathered and analysed by creating anonymous individual rich case records and shared with a panel of independent psychologists to conclude whether or not, from our findings, virtual reality is effective for achieving personally important goals. Findings will be shared with the hospice involved and form a Doctoral Thesis based at the University of Lincoln.

Cardiovascular Health Education Via Virtual Reality for Breast Cancer Survivors Receiving Anthracyclines or Trastuzumab

The main goal of this study is to test a virtual reality (VR) program, Survivors' Virtual Reality Survivorship Experience (SurviVRSE), designed to help Breast Cancer survivors (n=30) learn about heart health. The aims are to test the usability, feasibility, and acceptability o the intervention. Additionally, follow-up assessments will examine changes in women's cancer therapy related cardiac dysfunction knowledge and heart healthy behaviors (e.g., physical activity).

Virtual Reality-Based Integrative Simulation Nursing Home Visit

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a virtual reality-based integrative simulation training program in enhancing psychometric competence among nursing students during interactive community nursing home visits. The study will involve nursing students who will participate in a virtual reality educational intervention designed to improve their knowledge, practical skills, attitudes, and psychomotor competence related to community nursing home visits. Outcomes will include changes in knowledge, skills, attitudes, psychomotor competence, usability of the system, and participant satisfaction before and after the intervention.

Treatment of Parental Anxiety Virtual Reality (VR)

The purpose of this study is to determine if non-invasive distracting devices (Virtual Reality headset) are more effective than the standard of care (i.e., no technology based distraction) for preventing anxiety in parental and pediatric populations

Effects of Virtual Reality and Relaxation During Non-Stress Testing

Aim: This randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the effectiveness of virtual reality and progressive muscle relaxation exercise in reducing anxiety during the non-stress test (NST) and to evaluate their effects on maternal physiological parameters in high-risk pregnant women. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial between March 2025 and August 2025 at Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital with 126 high-risk pregnant women. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups (42 per group): virtual reality, progressive muscle relaxation exercise, and control group. During NST monitoring, participants in the virtual reality group received VR headset-based immersive audiovisual stimulation, while participants in the progressive muscle relaxation group performed guided relaxation exercises. The control group received routine NST monitoring without any additional intervention. Data were collected using the Informed Consent Form, Pregnant Woman Information Form, Non-Stress Test Follow-up Form, Physiological Parameters Follow-up Form, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI Form TX-I). The STAI, VAS, and physiological parameters were measured before and after NST, while fetal NST parameters were recorded during the procedure.

Virtual Reality for Mindfulness and Anxiety Reduction in Fertility Procedures

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a Virtual Reality (VR)-based mindfulness and meditation intervention in reducing anxiety among patients undergoing fertility-related surgical procedures. Anxiety is a common challenge in fertility treatments, often leading to emotional distress and increased pain perception. By incorporating a non-invasive VR intervention, the investigators seek to improve patient experience, minimize preoperative anxiety, and potentially reduce postoperative discomfort and recovery times. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) will compare standard care with a VR intervention in a clinical setting, measuring key outcomes such as anxiety levels, pain perception, recovery duration, and overall patient satisfaction. The findings may contribute to more patient centered fertility care, offering an innovative, scalable, and cost-effective approach to anxiety management in reproductive medicine.

Dynamic Balance in Unilateral Transtibial Amputees Following Virtual Reality Versus Conventional Rehabilitation

Amputation causes somatic and psychological damage. Prognostic factors for postoperative gait recovery include the need for proprioceptive re-education for dynamic balance. Improved gait patterns and use of the prosthesis contribute to an overall improvement in the amputee's autonomy. Virtual reality coupled with movement analysis allows personalization of treatment with objective assessment of progress. The study authors hypothesize that a virtual reality protocol for the dynamic balance of a unilateral transtibial amputee in initial rehabilitation will improve the dynamic balance assessment criteria compared with a conventional rehabilitation protocol.

An AI-Based Prediction of Cognitive Capacity in Older Adults and Individuals With Mild Cognitive Impairment During Virtual Reality Driving Tasks

Driving ability in older adults is essential for independent mobility and social participation, yet declines under high cognitive load or distraction often lead to visual attention failures such as "look-but-fail-to-see," increasing crash risk. Older adults and individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) show impairments in visual attention, executive control, and visuomotor integration, which are not adequately captured by conventional assessments. Virtual reality (VR) integrated with eye-tracking and upper-limb motion analysis enables ecologically valid simulation of driving scenarios and precise quantification of visuomotor behavior. However, current studies are limited by single-scenario designs, unimodal AI models, and insufficient integration of action-related data. This study proposes a multi-phase framework: Year 1 develops an eye-movement-based AI model for MCI identification; Year 2 integrates multimodal data in VR driving tasks; and Year 3 establishes an explainable AI system with longitudinal validation. The study aims to advance cognitive assessment and develop a digital tool for early MCI detection and driving risk prediction.

Assessment of the Influence of the Virtual Reality Headset on Pain and Anxiety During Oocyte Retrieval Under Local Anesthesia

Medically Assisted Reproduction provides help to infertile couples, single women and couples of women with a pregnancy project, and to women who wish to preserve their gametes. In the context of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), oocyte donation or oocyte preservation, it is necessary to perform an oocyte stimulation, followed by an ovarian puncture in order to retrieve mature oocytes. Several types of anesthesia can be used for this procedure: general anesthesia, local anesthesia and spinal anesthesia. The puncture can also be performed under hypnosis, but this practice is difficult to generalize, as it requires specific training. None of these different types of anesthesia has proven to be superior in terms of number and quality of oocytes collected, so the choice is left to the patient. General anesthesia is mostly chosen at Rennes, although it exposes to more risks and represents a higher socio-economic cost. Improving the comfort of these patients during oocyte retrieval is a priority, especially since they may have to undergo several successive retrievals during their treatment. What if virtual reality could be a way to improve the comfort of these patients? Indeed, this technology, which allows activity in an artificial 3-dimensional world, is considered as a non-pharmacological tool for pain management and its use during surgery would also reduce the level of anxiety. In our study, during the oocyte retrieval under local anesthesia, the patients randomized in the experimental group will wear a virtual reality headset diffusing an atmosphere considered as relaxing. The expected results of this work would be a significant decrease in pain during oocyte retrieval under local anesthesia in patients wearing the virtual reality headset, associated with a decrease of anxiety and a significantly higher satisfaction score. The final objective would be to consider this tool as a non-invasive means that could be used in routine in the department of Medically Assisted Reproduction of Rennes, but also in other cities. In the longer term, the reduction of pain and anxiety could encourage patients to choose local anesthesia and therefore increase its use. Observational, prospective, randomized, open-label, monocentric study.

Virtual Reality on Stress, Pain Levels in Patients With Hyperthyroidism Undergoing Biopsy

This study aims to investigate the effects of virtual reality on stress, pain levels and vital signs in patients diagnosed with hyperthyroidism who underwent fine needle biopsy.

Virtual Reality Mirror Therapy With Focused Object-Directed Attention System

In this study, the investigators hypothesized that Virtual Reality Mirror Therapy with Focused Object-Directed Attention (VRMTFOA) would yield superior therapeutic effects compared to conventional Virtual Reality Mirror Therapy (VRMT) in individuals with unilateral stroke. The aim of this study is to compare the immediate effects of a single session of VRMT, VRMTFOA, and VRMTFOA with auditory feedback on upper extremity function and brain activity in stroke patients.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Self-rehabilitation in the Treatment of Facial Paralysis and Synkinesis

Peripheral facial palsy affects 15 to 40 people per 100,000 inhabitants and induces important functional and social repercussions. Synkinesis is a frequent after-effect of facial palsy recovery, consisting of involuntary facial spasms that disturb the gestural harmony and can go as far as a painful hypertonic spasm. More than 55% of patients recovering from facial palsy will develop transient or permanent synkinesis. These facial hypertonias have two main causes: imperfect axonal regeneration, which is all the more important as the damage is proximal, and hyperexcitability of the facial nerve nucleus due to a lack of central control. Management is therefore essential for the functional restoration of the face, especially since synkinesis do not evolve spontaneously. The main treatments are currently botulinum toxin injection, acting on the motor plate, and functional rehabilitation, consisting on local muscle relaxation and central motor control work. In recent years, therapies based on biofeedback and acting on central motor control have shown interesting results, and technological advances in virtual reality have made it possible to deepen this treatment in patients suffering from stroke, limb trauma or Parkinson's disease. In this project, the investigators evaluate the contribution of virtual reality to the management of facial palsy, and hypothesize that self-rehabilitation using this technology will improve motor control of the skin muscles and reduce complications related to their hypertonia such as synkinesis.

Use of Virtual Reality as a Tool for Cognitive Remediation in Elderly Depressed Patients

Depression, the most common mental disorder affecting the elderly, represents a major public health issue. This pathology leads to a loss of activity and autonomy in the elderly. It impairs executive skills, enabling a person to take initiatives, perform goal-oriented actions and adapt to new situations. Impaired executive functions greatly increase the risk of loss of autonomy and institutionalization, as well as the burden on caregivers. Antidepressant treatments have little or no effect on cognitive disorders. It therefore appears necessary to offer these patients specific treatment of these cognitive symptoms. The investigators are interested in cognitive remediation based on virtual reality (VR) for its ecological and modular characteristics, the innovative aspect of this technique, the appeal of virtual experiences, and their easy access to the general public. The main objective of this study is to demonstrate the acceptability of the VR technique in a population of subjects aged 70 and over, suffering from cognitive disorders and associated depression. In this study the investigators support the use of VR as a tool for cognitive remediation and ecological staging of their interactions with caregivers in the face of executive disorders found in patients suffering from depression. By improving their cognitive skills, VR brings greater autonomy and improved quality of life for patients and their caregivers. The investigators therefore plan to use a virtual environment to create scenarios that reproduce real-life situations, which appear to be more relevant than conventional cognitive remediation exercises. The investigators chose acceptability as the main criterion for this technique, as the elderly population is identified as a sensitive population in the opinion issued by ANSES in June 2021. What's more, this population is often excluded from the new digital technologies; it therefore seems interesting to look at the acceptability of virtual reality by this elderly population.

Effect of Virtual Reality Glasses on Pain, Anxiety, and Comfort During Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy

Effect of Virtual Reality Glasses on Pain, Anxiety, and Comfort During ESWL

Virtual Reality-Based and Face-to-Face Relaxation Programs in Pregnant Women With Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia, affecting 2-8% of pregnancies globally, is a leading hypertensive disorder in pregnancy. It is clinically characterized by elevated blood pressure (≥140/90 mmHg) after the 20th gestational week, often accompanied by proteinuria and systemic complications such as thrombocytopenia, liver dysfunction, and cerebral symptoms. This condition poses significant risks for both maternal and fetal health, increasing the likelihood of organ damage, preterm birth, and long-term cardiovascular and neurodevelopmental complications. Non-pharmacological interventions, including relaxation techniques, have been explored for symptom management. Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) has shown efficacy in reducing stress, anxiety, and blood pressure. Recently, virtual reality (VR)-based relaxation techniques have gained attention for enhancing stress relief and improving health outcomes. This study aims to compare the effects of VR-based PMR with in-person PMR on maternal and fetal outcomes in preeclamptic pregnancies.

Consciousness Studies and Cardiovascular Health

The objective of the study is to evaluate whether a virtual reality (VR) based intervention combining binaural beats, photic stimulation, and real-time biofeedback reduces stress and improves physiological markers compared to non-VR interventions and usual care in patients that go to cardiology clinic.

Virtual Reality for Children in Radiotherapy (REVER)

For a young patient, the conditions of proton therapy treatment can be stressful. Adjusting the environment can be a source of avoiding this physical and psychological discomfort impacting the quality of treatment. A fixed, long, uncomfortable position is the main cause of stress, already present due to the cancerous therapeutic course. It extends the positioning time. For the patient and the optimization of his treatment, solutions must be sought. Relaxation in virtual reality is efficient, simple and non-medicinal and could reduce stress in children and allow irradiation in very good conditions. We will assess the effectiveness of the virtual reality session using objective (placement time, helmet tolerance) and subjective (perceived anxiety via a dedicated questionnaire) criteria. This is the first pediatric virtual reality study, supported by the French Group of Pediatric Radiotherapists, to reduce anxiety in radiotherapy. Multiple benefits from this pilot study are expected, such as improved reception conditions, treatment parameters and better acceptance of proton therapy sessions.

Cybersickness Prevention and Mitigation in Virtual Reality for Healthy Volunteers

Background: People use virtual reality (VR) technology to play games, socialize, work, or receive medical care. Some people have "cybersickness" after using VR. Cybersickness is similar to motion sickness. Symptoms include eye strain, nausea, dizziness, or headache. The symptoms are usually mild and go away after the person stops using VR. New software called Motion Reset is being designed to reduce symptoms of cybersickness during VR use. Objective: To see if Motion Reset software can reduce cybersickness in people using VR. Eligibility: Healthy adults aged 18 to 60 years. Design: Participants will have 1 clinic visit that will last about 1 hour. They will answer questions about how they are feeling. They will learn how to use the VR headset and the handheld game controllers. The study will be broken into 2 parts. For the first part, participants will be assigned to 1 of 3 groups: Group 1 will participate in a VR experience designed to prevent cybersickness. They will view screens and move around while they press buttons on a controller. Group 2 will participate in a VR experience that is not designed to prevent cybersickness. They will view screens and move around while they press buttons on a controller. Group 3 will have no VR experience. Participants will complete 2 questionnaires about their experiences in the first part of the study. For the second part, all participants will spend up to 20 minutes playing a commercial VR game called Jurassic World Aftermath. Every few minutes, they will be asked if they are experiencing discomfort. After playing the game, participants will complete 12 questionnaires about their experience....

The Effect of Virtual Reality Applications on Upper Extremity Functions in Patients With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

This study aims to evaluate the effects of fully immersive virtual reality (VR) applications on upper extremity (UE) functions in individuals diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). DMD is a progressive neuromuscular disorder that leads to muscle weakness and loss of function, including the upper limbs, which are essential for daily activities and independence. In this randomized controlled trial, 36 participants with DMD will be divided into two groups: a control group receiving conventional physiotherapy and an intervention group receiving the same physiotherapy program (excluding upper extremity exercises) combined with VR-based exercises. The VR games will be designed specifically to improve shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand functions and will be delivered using Meta Quest 3 headsets with hand-tracking capabilities. Both groups will receive therapy twice a week for 8 weeks. Assessments will be conducted before and after the intervention, and at follow-up, using validated tools to measure UE function, grip strength, fine motor skills, trunk control, fatigue, quality of life, and participation in daily activities. The study aims to explore innovative rehabilitation strategies for DMD and contribute to improving the independence and quality of life of affected individuals.