Virtual RealityNCT04268914
Virtual Reality to Reduce Pre-Operative Anxiety
A study testing Oculus Go VR and Mira Prism VR in people with Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, run by Children's Hospital Los Angeles at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study aims to test the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) as a non-pharmaceutical intervention to reduce pain and anxiety in children undergoing various procedures in the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) at CHLA, as measured by self- and proxy-report. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 10 to 21 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, IV Stick
- What is being tested?
- Oculus Go VR and Mira Prism VR
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion, Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 450 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 4 Dec 2015to 6 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 10 to 21 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Children who are 10-21 years old
- Children who are English speaking (parents may be Spanish English speaking or Spanish speaking)
- Children who are scheduled to undergo outpatient surgery are eligible to participate in this project.
- Children whose health status is American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-III will be recruited for this study. ASA status I refers to patients who are normal and healthy with no known systemic disease. ASA status II refers to patients who have mild or well-controlled systemic diseases, such as non-insulin dependent diabetes, upper respiratory conditions, well-controlled asthma or allergies.
- Only children who are in the normal range of development will be recruited for this study. This will be assessed by report from the parents. The rationale for excluding patients with developmental delay is that due to their cognitive impairments, such children react to the stressors of surgery differently than do children without such developmental delay. It is unclear how such children would use the preparation programs and interventions included in this study, and it is likely that their responses on baseline and outcome measures will differ from children of normal developmental parameters.
Who cannot join
- Children with health status defined by ASA status IV-V will be excluded from this study. ASA status IV refers to patients with an incapacitating systemic disease that is a constant threat to life. ASA status V patients are considered moribund.
- Children who are taking psychotropic medications that affect emotion modulation will be excluded from this study.
- Children with organic brain syndrome, mental retardation, or other known cognitive/neurological disorders
- Children with visual, auditory, or tactile deficits that would interfere with the ability to complete the experimental tasks or use the technological devices
- Children with a history of seizure disorder.
- Children currently sick with flu-like symptoms or experiencing a headache or earache
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, 90027
About this study
Official title: Effectiveness of Virtual Reality to Reduce Pre-Operative Anxiety
This study aims to test the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) as a non-pharmaceutical intervention to reduce pain and anxiety in children undergoing various procedures in the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) at CHLA, as measured by self- and proxy-report.
Read the detailed description
4 million children undergo surgery in the US each year and up to 65% of these children experience significant anxiety and distress before surgery. High anxiety can be traumatic, but it can also lead to postoperative adverse outcomes, such as increased pain and analgesics requirements, delayed hospital discharge, and maladaptive behavioral changes, in children after the surgery. Non-pharmacological intervention, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) interventions, such as virtual reality, has been shown to decrease anxiety and distress in other medical procedures (e.g., burn care, phlebotomy). Yet to date, no clinical trial has been conducted to examine the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) to reduce anxiety and distress prior to outpatient surgeries in the operating room setting.
The current study aims to: 1) Determine if VR is more effective than standard care for preventing anxiety, distress, and pain before surgery among children undergoing anesthesia induction, 2) To evaluate healthcare provider's and caregiver's assessment of patient cooperation and caregiver's distress and satisfaction with VR compared to standard of care, and 3) to explore the influence of patient and caregiver characteristics on the effectiveness of VR in preventing pre-operative anxiety and distress and subsequent post-operative outcomes.
Study Population: Children (age 10 - 21 years) and their parents who are scheduled to undergo outpatient surgery, whose health status is American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-III, and are in the normal range of development are eligible to be in the study.
Study Methodology: The study is a randomized, controlled trial designed to examine the effects of VR on the level of preoperative pain, anxiety and distress of children undergoing surgery.
Statistical Analyses: Univariate Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) will be used to compare differences in primary and secondary outcome variables in VR + standard of care to standard of care only conditions when pre and post-operative measures are available. Univariate ANOVA will be used to compare conditions on post-operative variables. Multiple regression analyses will be used to examine the influence of patient and caregiver variables on patient outcomes in the VR group only.
- Conditions
- Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, IV Stick, Mask Induction, Ambulatory Surgery, Pain
- Being tested
- Oculus Go VR, Mira Prism VR
- Keywords
- virtual reality, augmented reality, IV stick, mask induction, tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, arthroscopy, hernia, circumcision, orchiopexy, hymenectomy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, tymanoplasty, myringotomy, pilondial cyst excision, pain, anxiety
- Medical subject headings
- Pain, Anxiety Disorders, Hernia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Oculus Go VRDevice
The Oculus Go is a standalone headset with built-in speakers that runs independently of a smartphone. Via the Oculus Go, participants will engage with BearBlast (developed by AppliedVR). Throughout the world, plush moles play the role of antagonist, standing in for the nuisance and distraction of pain. The VR game is equipped with a head-tracking system, enabling the player to look around the virtual environment. In addition, there is the option to interact with the VR environment using a tap pad located on the side of the helmet. Therefore, the child will be receiving distraction via 3-D visual and auditory sensory, and tactile feedback, thus supplying a multi-sensory immersive experience. The VR HMD runs independently of a smartphone and has active matrix LCDs with high pixel resolution, creating a bright, vibrant color and a quality image.
Mira Prism VRDevice
The Mira Prism is a portable, augmented reality (AR) HMD powered by iPhone. When paired with the iPhone, the Mira Prism goggles can superimpose computer-generated images on the user's view of the real world. Unlike the full immersion of VR, AR allows users to view the outside world while interacting with digital content. In this study, the patient will interact with Magic Mallet (developed by Miney Moe) until falling asleep during the anesthesia induction process. Magic Mallet is a distraction game designed for pain management and communication during procedures. The game automatically adjusts cognitive load for optimal effect for users. Study team iPhones specifically loaded with Magic Mallet, and without cellular capability, will be used with the Mira Prism.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Standard of Care (No VR) Randomization | No intervention | In the standard of care treatment condition, participants will receive the standard CHLA treatment protocol for IV placement and induction of anesthesia. Current standard of care practices at CHLA for outpatient surgery induction will include the following steps. Children may receive midazolam, parental presence during induction and any other intervention or medication chosen by the HCP. The research team will have no input to the decision regarding the use of any therapy. |
| VR Randomization | Experimental | When a child is assigned to the VR condition s/he will have the added component of VR distraction during pre-surgical preparation. Children in the VR condition will interact with an immersive 3D virtual environment presented via a HMD (head-mounted display), a helmet with computer screens for each eye. This study will use two HMDs at two possible time points: (1) Prior to and during IV placement, participants will play using the Oculus Go; (2) Prior to and during anesthesia induction, participants will play using the Mira Prism. Receives: Device: Oculus Go VR; Device: Mira Prism VR |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
VAS anticipatory anxiety measure
The VAS anticipatory anxiety measure is a vertical VAS, anchored with 0 at the bottom indicating the least amount and 10 at the top indicating the greatest amount, in response to the instruction to rate "how nervous, afraid, or worried" they were about the upcoming task. The scale also has color cues, graded from yellow at the bottom to dark red at the top, as well as a neutral face at the bottom and a face showing a negative expression at the top. Prior research used the VAS to rate anticipatory anxiety and pain in children.
Measured: Approximately 5 minutes to one hour before procedure
STAI-C (if elementary or junior high aged), STAI-Y (if in high school or college)
The STAIC is a self-administered measure of anxiety in children. It is comprised of separate, self-report scales for measuring two distinct anxiety concepts: state anxiety (A-State) and trait anxiety (A-Trait). The STAI-C distinguishes between a general proneness to anxious behavior rooted in the personality and anxiety as a fleeting emotional state. The instrument consists of two 20-item scales. In the current study, the measure will be used to measure both state and trait anxiety. The STAI is the validated instrument for measuring anxiety in in elementary and junior high aged children.
Measured: Approximately 5 minutes to one hour before procedure
Child State Anxiety Index (CASI) or Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) if 18 and older
The Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI): CASI is an 18-item scale that measures the tendency to view anxiety-related bodily sensations as dangerous (e.g., ''It scares me when my heart beats fast''). Items are scored on a 3-point scale (none, some, a lot), and total scores are calculated by summing all items. The CASI has demonstrated high internal consistency and adequate test-retest reliability. The CASI correlates well with measures of trait anxiety but also accounts for variance in fear not attributable to trait anxiety measures.
Measured: Approximately 5 minutes to one hour before procedure
The Faces Pain Scale (FPS-R)
Revised is an updated version of the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale depicting no pain as a neutral expression as compared with the smiling face of the original measure. The child is asked to point to the face cartoon that depicts how they are currently feeling because of their pain. Face measures are thought to measure pain intensity, and the Wong-Baker Faces measure has demonstrated good reliability and validity.
Measured: Approximately 5 minutes to one hour before procedure
Child Satisfaction Questionnaire
The child survey is 13-item, Likert-like survey to assess child estimates of pain reduction, fear reduction, decreased behavioral distress, and overall satisfaction; it mirrors the parent survey. There are two versions, one for each treatment condition. Two versions of the survey exist, to account for condition (VR vs. standard of care).
Measured: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
CAMPIS-R
The CAMPIS-R is a standardized rating scale that codes videotaped verbal interactions in the pediatric treatment room. The CAMPIS-R codes the subject, speaker, phase of medical procedure, verbal content, affective tone, and to whom vocalizations are directed. Adult vocalizations are coded as coping-promoting (nonprocedural talk or humor directed to the child, commands to engage in coping strategies), distress-promoting (reassuring comments, apologies, giving control to the child, criticism, and empathetic statements), or neutral (humor to adults, nonprocedural talk to adults, child's condition talk, commands for procedural activity, praise, notification of procedure to come, behavioral commands to child, checking child's status).
Measured: Peri-procedure
Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (m-YPAS; Kain et al., 1995; Kain et al., 1997)
The YPAS consists of 27 items in five domains of behavior indicating anxiety in young children (Activity, Emotional expressivity, State of arousal, Vocalization and Use of parents). This measure takes approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. The 'adjusted YPAS total score' ranges from 0 to 100 with higher scores indicating greater anxiety. The YPAS was developed originally to measure the anxiety of children while undergoing induction of anesthesia. Recently, we validated the YPAS against a self-report measure, the State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (Kain et al., 1997; STAIC). Data Obtained: Standard scores for the anxiety level of children during the perioperative period.
Measured: Peri-procedure
Parent Anxiety Scale
The parent is asked to indicate "how nervous, afraid, or worried" they believe their child was about the task on a scale of 1 to 10, from least to most anxious. (See description of Child Anticipatory/Procedural Anxiety)
Measured: Approximately 5 minutes to one hour before procedure
STAI
The STAI is a self-administered measure of anxiety in adults. It is comprised of separate, self-report scales for measuring two distinct anxiety concepts: state anxiety (A-State) and trait anxiety (A-Trait). The STAI-Y distinguishes between a general proneness to anxious behavior rooted in the personality and anxiety as a fleeting emotional state. The instrument consists of two 20-item scales. In the current study, the measure will be used to measure trait and state anxiety. The STAI is the validated instrument for measuring anxiety in working adults, and in young adults in high school and college.
Measured: Approximately 5 minutes to one hour before procedure
Parent Pain Scale
Parents/Caregivers will be asked to report on their child's pain on a faces pain scale of 1 to 6, from least to most pain, during 1) the IV start procedure and 2) the mask induction. (See description of Child Pain - POST)
Measured: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
7-item self-report measure of healthcare provider's perceptions about the child's cooperation, pain, distress, and anxiety
The healthcare provider survey is a 7-item Likert-like investigator-developed survey to assess their estimates of pain and anxiety management, cooperation, and satisfaction with the procedure. Healthcare providers are also invited to write comments about the use of VR (if applicable) during the IV placement procedure.
Measured: Peri-procedure
6-item self-report measure of healthcare provider's perceptions about the child's cooperation, distress, and anxiety
The healthcare provider survey is a 6-item Likert-like investigator-developed survey to assess their estimates of fear reduction, decreased behavioral distress, and overall satisfaction related to the procedure they just performed with the child/adolescent. Healthcare providers are also asked about sedative use and are invited to write comments about the use of VR (if applicable) during the mask induction procedure.
Measured: Peri-procedure
VAS anticipatory anxiety measure
The VAS anticipatory anxiety measure is a vertical VAS, anchored with 0 at the bottom indicating the least amount and 10 at the top indicating the greatest amount, in response to the instruction to rate "how nervous, afraid, or worried" they were about the upcoming task. The scale also has color cues, graded from yellow at the bottom to dark red at the top, as well as a neutral face at the bottom and a face showing a negative expression at the top. Prior research used the VAS to rate anticipatory anxiety and pain in children.
Measured: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
STAI-C (if elementary or junior high aged), STAI-Y (if in high school or college)
The STAIC is a self-administered measure of anxiety in children. It is comprised of separate, self-report scales for measuring two distinct anxiety concepts: state anxiety (A-State) and trait anxiety (A-Trait). The STAI-C distinguishes between a general proneness to anxious behavior rooted in the personality and anxiety as a fleeting emotional state. The instrument consists of two 20-item scales. In the current study, the measure will be used to measure both state and trait anxiety. The STAI is the validated instrument for measuring anxiety in in elementary and junior high aged children.
Measured: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
The Faces Pain Scale (FPS-R)
Revised is an updated version of the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale depicting no pain as a neutral expression as compared with the smiling face of the original measure. The child is asked to point to the face cartoon that depicts how they are currently feeling because of their pain. Face measures are thought to measure pain intensity, and the Wong-Baker Faces measure has demonstrated good reliability and validity.
Measured: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
Parent Anxiety Scale
The parent is asked to indicate "how nervous, afraid, or worried" they believe their child was about the task on a scale of 1 to 10, from least to most anxious. (See description of Child Anticipatory/Procedural Anxiety)
Measured: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
STAI
The STAI is a self-administered measure of anxiety in adults. It is comprised of separate, self-report scales for measuring two distinct anxiety concepts: state anxiety (A-State) and trait anxiety (A-Trait). The STAI-Y distinguishes between a general proneness to anxious behavior rooted in the personality and anxiety as a fleeting emotional state. The instrument consists of two 20-item scales. In the current study, the measure will be used to measure trait and state anxiety. The STAI is the validated instrument for measuring anxiety in working adults, and in young adults in high school and college.
Measured: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
Secondary outcomes (9)
Malaise Scale (MS)
The MS is a six-point scale indicating level of nausea from (1) no symptoms to (6) being sick The MS is completed before and after administration of the VR game to monitor for any signs of nausea. Instructions to the child are as follows: "This is a scale from one to six. One means that you feel fine and no different to how you normally feel. Two means that you feel a little bit different or funny but not sick in the tummy. Three means that you feel a little bit sick and four means that you feel more than a little bit sick but not really sick. Five means that you feel really sick, like you are going to throw up or vomit and six means that you are being sick or vomiting. I'm going to ask you every few minutes how you feel. I want you to tell me which number from one to six best describes how you feel at that time."
Measured: Approximately 5 minutes to one hour before procedure
Blood pressure and heart rate (BP/ HR)
Blood pressure and heart rate assessed intraoperatively and in the operating room will be ascertained via chart review.
Measured: Approximately 5 minutes to one hour before procedure
Child Presence Questionnaire
The Child Presence Questionnaire was developed out of a content analysis of the entire domain of adult presence items and selection and adaptation of appropriate items for assessing the child's sense of believability of their experience. This 16-item measure is verbally administered to children and asks them to respond according to a 3-point Likert-like format. Items assess the child's sense of involvement, realism, and transportation into the experience. Patients in the VR condition will complete the Child Presence Questionnaire post-procedure to assess level of VR immersion.
Measured: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC-2)
The BASC-2 is a multi-dimensional approach to evaluate behavior (problem behavior as well as adaptive behavior) of children 8 to 18 years old. The parent-report measure has good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. It has been validated in English and Spanish.
Measured: Approximately 5 minutes to one hour before procedure
Parent Satisfaction Questionnaire
The parent survey is 16-item, Likert-like survey to assess parent estimates of pain reduction, fear reduction, decreased behavioral distress, and overall satisfaction. Two versions of the survey exist, to account for condition (VR vs. standard of care).
Measured: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (Sikich, 2004; PAED)
The PAED rating scale consists of five psychometric items ("child makes eye contact with the caregiver", "child's actions are purposeful", child is aware of the surroundings", child is restless", "child is inconsolable") for the measurement of ED in children. A decreased ability of the child to make eye contact with the caregiver and a declined awareness of his surroundings reflect disturbances in consciousness with a reduced ability to focus, sustain, or shift attention. Less purposeful actions suggest cognitive changes that include perception and memory impairment as well as disorganized thinking patterns. The two other items reflect a disturbance in psychomotor behavior and emotion, although they may also suggest pain or apprehension.
Measured: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
Watcha Scale (Watcha et al., 1992)
The Watcha Scale is a four point scale that is used to assess emergence delirium (ED). A child with a score of 3 or 4 can be considered to have emergence delirium. The Watcha Scale demonstrates reliability and validity in pediatric populations (Reduque \& Verghese 2012).
Measured: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
Analgesic Requirements
Frequency and dose of analgesic administered intraoperatively and in the operating room will be ascertained via chart review. Data Obtained: Frequency and dose of analgesic received in the operating room.
Measured: Peri-procedure
Malaise Scale (MS)
The MS is a six-point scale indicating level of nausea from (1) no symptoms to (6) being sick The MS is completed before and after administration of the VR game to monitor for any signs of nausea. Instructions to the child are as follows: "This is a scale from one to six. One means that you feel fine and no different to how you normally feel. Two means that you feel a little bit different or funny but not sick in the tummy. Three means that you feel a little bit sick and four means that you feel more than a little bit sick but not really sick. Five means that you feel really sick, like you are going to throw up or vomit and six means that you are being sick or vomiting. I'm going to ask you every few minutes how you feel. I want you to tell me which number from one to six best describes how you feel at that time."
Measured: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Feb 2020
- Study start4 Dec 2015
- Primary completion6 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion6 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Why it stopped: The AR technology we were using is now out of business and we are trying to use a different device.
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (34)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Virtual RealityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 450 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- AppliedVR Inc.
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jeffrey I Gold, PhD, Children's Hospital Los Angeles
- Investigators
- Jeffrey I Gold, PhD, Principal investigator, Children's Hospital Los Angeles
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04268914
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- CHLA-15-00461
- Status last verified
- Oct 2023
- First submitted
- 10 Feb 2020
- Last updated
- 27 Oct 2023
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- Yes
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Perry JN, Hooper VD, Masiongale J. Reduction of preoperative anxiety in pediatric surgery patients using age-appropriate teaching interventions. J Perianesth Nurs. 2012 Apr;27(2):69-81. doi: 10.1016/j.jopan.2012.01.003.
PubMed 22443919Davidson A, McKenzie I. Distress at induction: prevention and consequences. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2011 Jun;24(3):301-6. doi: 10.1097/ACO.0b013e3283466b27.
PubMed 21494130Kain ZN, Mayes LC, O'Connor TZ, Cicchetti DV. Preoperative anxiety in children. Predictors and outcomes. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1996 Dec;150(12):1238-45. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1996.02170370016002.
PubMed 8953995Kain Z, Lc M, Cote C, Todres D: The perioperative behavioral stress response in children, Practice of Anesthesia for Infants and Children. Edited by Anonymous. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 2001, pp 25-37.
Kain Z, Mayes L, Borestein M, Genevro J: Anxiety in children during the perioperative period, Child Development and Behavioral Pediatrics. Edited by Anonymous. Mahwah, NJ, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1996, pp 85-103.
Burton L, Verma V: Anxiety relating to illness and treatment, Anxiety in Children. Edited by Anonymous. New York, Methuen Croom Helm, 1984, pp 151-172.
Kain Z, Atlee J: Perioperative psychological trauma in children, Complications in Anesthesiology. Edited by Anonymous. Philadelphia, WB Saunders, 1999, pp 674-677.
Kain ZN, Wang SM, Mayes LC, Caramico LA, Hofstadter MB. Distress during the induction of anesthesia and postoperative behavioral outcomes. Anesth Analg. 1999 May;88(5):1042-7. doi: 10.1097/00000539-199905000-00013.
PubMed 10320165Kain Z, Sevarino F, Rinder C: The preoperative behavioral stress response: Does it exist? Anesthesiology 1999; 91: A742.
Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Page GG, Marucha PT, MacCallum RC, Glaser R. Psychological influences on surgical recovery. Perspectives from psychoneuroimmunology. Am Psychol. 1998 Nov;53(11):1209-18. doi: 10.1037//0003-066x.53.11.1209.
PubMed 9830373Johnston M. Pre-operative emotional states and post-operative recovery. Adv Psychosom Med. 1986;15:1-22. doi: 10.1159/000411845. No abstract available.
PubMed 3706030Kain ZN, Sevarino F, Alexander GM, Pincus S, Mayes LC. Preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain in women undergoing hysterectomy. A repeated-measures design. J Psychosom Res. 2000 Dec;49(6):417-22. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3999(00)00189-6.
PubMed 11182434Martinez-Urrutia A. Anxiety and pain in surgical patients. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1975 Aug;43(4):437-42. doi: 10.1037/h0076898. No abstract available.
PubMed 1159142Wallace LM. Pre-operative state anxiety as a mediator of psychological adjustment to and recovery from surgery. Br J Med Psychol. 1986 Sep;59(3):253-61. doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8341.1986.tb02691.x.
PubMed 3768273Kain ZN. Premedication and parental presence revisited. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2001 Jun;14(3):331-7. doi: 10.1097/00001503-200106000-00009.
PubMed 17019112
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 27 Oct 2023. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effectiveness of Virtual Reality to Reduce Pre-Operative Anxiety
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04268914
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CHLA-15-00461
- Conditions
- Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, IV Stick, Mask Induction, Ambulatory Surgery, Pain
- Keywords
- virtual reality, augmented reality, IV stick, mask induction, tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, arthroscopy, hernia
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- SuspendedReason stopped: The AR technology we were using is now out of business and we are trying to use a different device.
- Enrolment
- 450 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Children's Hospital Los AngelesUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- AppliedVR Inc.
- Study start
- 4 Dec 2015 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 6 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 6 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 13 Feb 2020 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to test the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) as a non-pharmaceutical intervention to reduce pain and anxiety in children undergoing various procedures in the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) at CHLA, as measured by self- and proxy-report.
Detailed description
4 million children undergo surgery in the US each year and up to 65% of these children experience significant anxiety and distress before surgery. High anxiety can be traumatic, but it can also lead to postoperative adverse outcomes, such as increased pain and analgesics requirements, delayed hospital discharge, and maladaptive behavioral changes, in children after the surgery. Non-pharmacological intervention, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) interventions, such as virtual reality, has been shown to decrease anxiety and distress in other medical procedures (e.g., burn care, phlebotomy). Yet to date, no clinical trial has been conducted to examine the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) to reduce anxiety and distress prior to outpatient surgeries in the operating room setting.
The current study aims to: 1) Determine if VR is more effective than standard care for preventing anxiety, distress, and pain before surgery among children undergoing anesthesia induction, 2) To evaluate healthcare provider's and caregiver's assessment of patient cooperation and caregiver's distress and satisfaction with VR compared to standard of care, and 3) to explore the influence of patient and caregiver characteristics on the effectiveness of VR in preventing pre-operative anxiety and distress and subsequent post-operative outcomes.
Study Population: Children (age 10 - 21 years) and their parents who are scheduled to undergo outpatient surgery, whose health status is American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-III, and are in the normal range of development are eligible to be in the study.
Study Methodology: The study is a randomized, controlled trial designed to examine the effects of VR on the level of preoperative pain, anxiety and distress of children undergoing surgery.
Statistical Analyses: Univariate Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) will be used to compare differences in primary and secondary outcome variables in VR + standard of care to standard of care only conditions when pre and post-operative measures are available. Univariate ANOVA will be used to compare conditions on post-operative variables. Multiple regression analyses will be used to examine the influence of patient and caregiver variables on patient outcomes in the VR group only.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Standard of Care (No VR) Randomization | No intervention | –In the standard of care treatment condition, participants will receive the standard CHLA treatment protocol for IV placement and induction of anesthesia. Current standard of care practices at CHLA for outpatient surgery induction will include the following steps. Children may receive midazolam, parental presence during induction and any other intervention or medication chosen by the HCP. The research team will have no input to the decision regarding the use of any therapy. |
| VR Randomization | Experimental | Device: Oculus Go VR, Device: Mira Prism VRWhen a child is assigned to the VR condition s/he will have the added component of VR distraction during pre-surgical preparation. Children in the VR condition will interact with an immersive 3D virtual environment presented via a HMD (head-mounted display), a helmet with computer screens for each eye. This study will use two HMDs at two possible time points: (1) Prior to and during IV placement, participants will play using the Oculus Go; (2) Prior to and during anesthesia induction, participants will play using the Mira Prism. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 10 to 21 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Children who are 10-21 years old
- Children who are English speaking (parents may be Spanish English speaking or Spanish speaking)
- Children who are scheduled to undergo outpatient surgery are eligible to participate in this project.
- Children whose health status is American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-III will be recruited for this study. ASA status I refers to patients who are normal and healthy with no known systemic disease. ASA status II refers to patients who have mild or well-controlled systemic diseases, such as non-insulin dependent diabetes, upper respiratory conditions, well-controlled asthma or allergies.
- Only children who are in the normal range of development will be recruited for this study. This will be assessed by report from the parents. The rationale for excluding patients with developmental delay is that due to their cognitive impairments, such children react to the stressors of surgery differently than do children without such developmental delay. It is unclear how such children would use the preparation programs and interventions included in this study, and it is likely that their responses on baseline and outcome measures will differ from children of normal developmental parameters.
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Children with health status defined by ASA status IV-V will be excluded from this study. ASA status IV refers to patients with an incapacitating systemic disease that is a constant threat to life. ASA status V patients are considered moribund.
- Children who are taking psychotropic medications that affect emotion modulation will be excluded from this study.
- Children with organic brain syndrome, mental retardation, or other known cognitive/neurological disorders
- Children with visual, auditory, or tactile deficits that would interfere with the ability to complete the experimental tasks or use the technological devices
- Children with a history of seizure disorder.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Oculus Go VRThe Oculus Go is a standalone headset with built-in speakers that runs independently of a smartphone. Via the Oculus Go, participants will engage with BearBlast (developed by AppliedVR). Throughout the world, plush moles play the role of antagonist, standing in for the nuisance and distraction of pain. The VR game is equipped with a head-tracking system, enabling the player to look around the virtual environment. In addition, there is the option to interact with the VR environment using a tap pad located on the side of the helmet. Therefore, the child will be receiving distraction via 3-D visual and auditory sensory, and tactile feedback, thus supplying a multi-sensory immersive experience. The VR HMD runs independently of a smartphone and has active matrix LCDs with high pixel resolution, creating a bright, vibrant color and a quality image. | Device | VR Randomization |
| Mira Prism VRThe Mira Prism is a portable, augmented reality (AR) HMD powered by iPhone. When paired with the iPhone, the Mira Prism goggles can superimpose computer-generated images on the user's view of the real world. Unlike the full immersion of VR, AR allows users to view the outside world while interacting with digital content. In this study, the patient will interact with Magic Mallet (developed by Miney Moe) until falling asleep during the anesthesia induction process. Magic Mallet is a distraction game designed for pain management and communication during procedures. The game automatically adjusts cognitive load for optimal effect for users. Study team iPhones specifically loaded with Magic Mallet, and without cellular capability, will be used with the Mira Prism. | Device | VR Randomization |
Primary outcome
VAS anticipatory anxiety measure
Time frame: Approximately 5 minutes to one hour before procedure
The VAS anticipatory anxiety measure is a vertical VAS, anchored with 0 at the bottom indicating the least amount and 10 at the top indicating the greatest amount, in response to the instruction to rate "how nervous, afraid, or worried" they were about the upcoming task. The scale also has color cues, graded from yellow at the bottom to dark red at the top, as well as a neutral face at the bottom and a face showing a negative expression at the top. Prior research used the VAS to rate anticipatory anxiety and pain in children.
STAI-C (if elementary or junior high aged), STAI-Y (if in high school or college)
Time frame: Approximately 5 minutes to one hour before procedure
The STAIC is a self-administered measure of anxiety in children. It is comprised of separate, self-report scales for measuring two distinct anxiety concepts: state anxiety (A-State) and trait anxiety (A-Trait). The STAI-C distinguishes between a general proneness to anxious behavior rooted in the personality and anxiety as a fleeting emotional state. The instrument consists of two 20-item scales. In the current study, the measure will be used to measure both state and trait anxiety. The STAI is the validated instrument for measuring anxiety in in elementary and junior high aged children.
Child State Anxiety Index (CASI) or Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) if 18 and older
Time frame: Approximately 5 minutes to one hour before procedure
The Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI): CASI is an 18-item scale that measures the tendency to view anxiety-related bodily sensations as dangerous (e.g., ''It scares me when my heart beats fast''). Items are scored on a 3-point scale (none, some, a lot), and total scores are calculated by summing all items. The CASI has demonstrated high internal consistency and adequate test-retest reliability. The CASI correlates well with measures of trait anxiety but also accounts for variance in fear not attributable to trait anxiety measures.
The Faces Pain Scale (FPS-R)
Time frame: Approximately 5 minutes to one hour before procedure
Revised is an updated version of the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale depicting no pain as a neutral expression as compared with the smiling face of the original measure. The child is asked to point to the face cartoon that depicts how they are currently feeling because of their pain. Face measures are thought to measure pain intensity, and the Wong-Baker Faces measure has demonstrated good reliability and validity.
Child Satisfaction Questionnaire
Time frame: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
The child survey is 13-item, Likert-like survey to assess child estimates of pain reduction, fear reduction, decreased behavioral distress, and overall satisfaction; it mirrors the parent survey. There are two versions, one for each treatment condition. Two versions of the survey exist, to account for condition (VR vs. standard of care).
CAMPIS-R
Time frame: Peri-procedure
The CAMPIS-R is a standardized rating scale that codes videotaped verbal interactions in the pediatric treatment room. The CAMPIS-R codes the subject, speaker, phase of medical procedure, verbal content, affective tone, and to whom vocalizations are directed. Adult vocalizations are coded as coping-promoting (nonprocedural talk or humor directed to the child, commands to engage in coping strategies), distress-promoting (reassuring comments, apologies, giving control to the child, criticism, and empathetic statements), or neutral (humor to adults, nonprocedural talk to adults, child's condition talk, commands for procedural activity, praise, notification of procedure to come, behavioral commands to child, checking child's status).
Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (m-YPAS; Kain et al., 1995; Kain et al., 1997)
Time frame: Peri-procedure
The YPAS consists of 27 items in five domains of behavior indicating anxiety in young children (Activity, Emotional expressivity, State of arousal, Vocalization and Use of parents). This measure takes approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. The 'adjusted YPAS total score' ranges from 0 to 100 with higher scores indicating greater anxiety. The YPAS was developed originally to measure the anxiety of children while undergoing induction of anesthesia. Recently, we validated the YPAS against a self-report measure, the State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (Kain et al., 1997; STAIC). Data Obtained: Standard scores for the anxiety level of children during the perioperative period.
Parent Anxiety Scale
Time frame: Approximately 5 minutes to one hour before procedure
The parent is asked to indicate "how nervous, afraid, or worried" they believe their child was about the task on a scale of 1 to 10, from least to most anxious. (See description of Child Anticipatory/Procedural Anxiety)
STAI
Time frame: Approximately 5 minutes to one hour before procedure
The STAI is a self-administered measure of anxiety in adults. It is comprised of separate, self-report scales for measuring two distinct anxiety concepts: state anxiety (A-State) and trait anxiety (A-Trait). The STAI-Y distinguishes between a general proneness to anxious behavior rooted in the personality and anxiety as a fleeting emotional state. The instrument consists of two 20-item scales. In the current study, the measure will be used to measure trait and state anxiety. The STAI is the validated instrument for measuring anxiety in working adults, and in young adults in high school and college.
Parent Pain Scale
Time frame: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
Parents/Caregivers will be asked to report on their child's pain on a faces pain scale of 1 to 6, from least to most pain, during 1) the IV start procedure and 2) the mask induction. (See description of Child Pain - POST)
7-item self-report measure of healthcare provider's perceptions about the child's cooperation, pain, distress, and anxiety
Time frame: Peri-procedure
The healthcare provider survey is a 7-item Likert-like investigator-developed survey to assess their estimates of pain and anxiety management, cooperation, and satisfaction with the procedure. Healthcare providers are also invited to write comments about the use of VR (if applicable) during the IV placement procedure.
6-item self-report measure of healthcare provider's perceptions about the child's cooperation, distress, and anxiety
Time frame: Peri-procedure
The healthcare provider survey is a 6-item Likert-like investigator-developed survey to assess their estimates of fear reduction, decreased behavioral distress, and overall satisfaction related to the procedure they just performed with the child/adolescent. Healthcare providers are also asked about sedative use and are invited to write comments about the use of VR (if applicable) during the mask induction procedure.
VAS anticipatory anxiety measure
Time frame: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
The VAS anticipatory anxiety measure is a vertical VAS, anchored with 0 at the bottom indicating the least amount and 10 at the top indicating the greatest amount, in response to the instruction to rate "how nervous, afraid, or worried" they were about the upcoming task. The scale also has color cues, graded from yellow at the bottom to dark red at the top, as well as a neutral face at the bottom and a face showing a negative expression at the top. Prior research used the VAS to rate anticipatory anxiety and pain in children.
STAI-C (if elementary or junior high aged), STAI-Y (if in high school or college)
Time frame: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
The STAIC is a self-administered measure of anxiety in children. It is comprised of separate, self-report scales for measuring two distinct anxiety concepts: state anxiety (A-State) and trait anxiety (A-Trait). The STAI-C distinguishes between a general proneness to anxious behavior rooted in the personality and anxiety as a fleeting emotional state. The instrument consists of two 20-item scales. In the current study, the measure will be used to measure both state and trait anxiety. The STAI is the validated instrument for measuring anxiety in in elementary and junior high aged children.
The Faces Pain Scale (FPS-R)
Time frame: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
Revised is an updated version of the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale depicting no pain as a neutral expression as compared with the smiling face of the original measure. The child is asked to point to the face cartoon that depicts how they are currently feeling because of their pain. Face measures are thought to measure pain intensity, and the Wong-Baker Faces measure has demonstrated good reliability and validity.
Parent Anxiety Scale
Time frame: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
The parent is asked to indicate "how nervous, afraid, or worried" they believe their child was about the task on a scale of 1 to 10, from least to most anxious. (See description of Child Anticipatory/Procedural Anxiety)
STAI
Time frame: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
The STAI is a self-administered measure of anxiety in adults. It is comprised of separate, self-report scales for measuring two distinct anxiety concepts: state anxiety (A-State) and trait anxiety (A-Trait). The STAI-Y distinguishes between a general proneness to anxious behavior rooted in the personality and anxiety as a fleeting emotional state. The instrument consists of two 20-item scales. In the current study, the measure will be used to measure trait and state anxiety. The STAI is the validated instrument for measuring anxiety in working adults, and in young adults in high school and college.
9 secondary outcomes
Malaise Scale (MS)
Time frame: Approximately 5 minutes to one hour before procedure
Blood pressure and heart rate (BP/ HR)
Time frame: Approximately 5 minutes to one hour before procedure
Child Presence Questionnaire
Time frame: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC-2)
Time frame: Approximately 5 minutes to one hour before procedure
Parent Satisfaction Questionnaire
Time frame: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (Sikich, 2004; PAED)
Time frame: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
Watcha Scale (Watcha et al., 1992)
Time frame: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
Analgesic Requirements
Time frame: Peri-procedure
Malaise Scale (MS)
Time frame: Approximately 5-15 minutes after procedure
Results and safety
Results are not available in the source record.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 27 Oct 2023.
- Background: PubMed 22443919Perry JN, Hooper VD, Masiongale J. Reduction of preoperative anxiety in pediatric surgery patients using age-appropriate teaching interventions. J Perianesth Nurs. 2012 Apr;27(2):69-81. doi: 10.1016/j.jopan.2012.01.003.
- Background: PubMed 21494130Davidson A, McKenzie I. Distress at induction: prevention and consequences. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2011 Jun;24(3):301-6. doi: 10.1097/ACO.0b013e3283466b27.
- Background: PubMed 8953995Kain ZN, Mayes LC, O'Connor TZ, Cicchetti DV. Preoperative anxiety in children. Predictors and outcomes. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1996 Dec;150(12):1238-45. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1996.02170370016002.
- BackgroundKain Z, Lc M, Cote C, Todres D: The perioperative behavioral stress response in children, Practice of Anesthesia for Infants and Children. Edited by Anonymous. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 2001, pp 25-37.
- BackgroundKain Z, Mayes L, Borestein M, Genevro J: Anxiety in children during the perioperative period, Child Development and Behavioral Pediatrics. Edited by Anonymous. Mahwah, NJ, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1996, pp 85-103.
- BackgroundBurton L, Verma V: Anxiety relating to illness and treatment, Anxiety in Children. Edited by Anonymous. New York, Methuen Croom Helm, 1984, pp 151-172.
- BackgroundKain Z, Atlee J: Perioperative psychological trauma in children, Complications in Anesthesiology. Edited by Anonymous. Philadelphia, WB Saunders, 1999, pp 674-677.
- Background: PubMed 10320165Kain ZN, Wang SM, Mayes LC, Caramico LA, Hofstadter MB. Distress during the induction of anesthesia and postoperative behavioral outcomes. Anesth Analg. 1999 May;88(5):1042-7. doi: 10.1097/00000539-199905000-00013.
- BackgroundKain Z, Sevarino F, Rinder C: The preoperative behavioral stress response: Does it exist? Anesthesiology 1999; 91: A742.
- Background: PubMed 9830373Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Page GG, Marucha PT, MacCallum RC, Glaser R. Psychological influences on surgical recovery. Perspectives from psychoneuroimmunology. Am Psychol. 1998 Nov;53(11):1209-18. doi: 10.1037//0003-066x.53.11.1209.
- Background: PubMed 3706030Johnston M. Pre-operative emotional states and post-operative recovery. Adv Psychosom Med. 1986;15:1-22. doi: 10.1159/000411845. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 11182434Kain ZN, Sevarino F, Alexander GM, Pincus S, Mayes LC. Preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain in women undergoing hysterectomy. A repeated-measures design. J Psychosom Res. 2000 Dec;49(6):417-22. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3999(00)00189-6.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Jeffrey I Gold, PhD principal investigator
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Oculus Go VR and Mira Prism VR in people with Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, run by Children's Hospital Los Angeles at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: paused, as of the sponsor's last update on 27 Oct 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Results are not available in the source record.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
VAS anticipatory anxiety measure (time frame: Approximately 5 minutes to one hour before procedure). The study lists 17 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04268914, which also lists 34 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 27 Oct 2023.