The Effect of Smartphone-Based Virtual Reality Relaxation (S-VR) in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

This study presents Smartphone-Based Virtual Reality Relaxation (S-VR) as a complementary modality in cancer treatment. We will conduct a randomised controlled trial to evaluate its impact in cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy.

This study is a two-arm parallel randomised controlled trial with a 1:1 allocation. This study divided two groups, namely the intervention group in the form of SVR therapy with the installation of a VR device (head-mounted display/HMD) on the respondent's head during chemotherapy. The control group received standard care through leaflets containing instructions for relaxation techniques with image visualization as guided imagery therapy. The group's determination, apart from randomization, will also use envelope concealment and outcome assessor will be blinded during data collection. The protocol is composed according to Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials and its checklist.

The sample size calculation used the G*Power for windows application Version 3.1.9.6. The effect size is 0.81, type 1 error (α) = 5% (two-tailed), power (1-β) 90%, and the allocation ratio between groups is 1:1. Effect size refers to previous studies with similar outcomes. Based on the G Power calculation, the calculation of study sample size is 34 people per group. We will drop out by 15%, thereby increasing the sample size to 40 subjects per group.

The sampling technique will use consecutive sampling. This non-probability sampling method involves recruiting everyone from the accessible population during a given time interval or for a specific sample size. Cancer patients who have scheduled chemotherapy and meet the requirements in the data collection time will be offered to be involved in the study.

Researchers will carry out the screening process to determine eligible patients as study participants. The patient's medical record will also be validated to fulfill the baseline information (e.g. anthropometric data, laboratory, patient identification, and laboratory result). Allocation sequence generation will be through simple randomization of study participant using a formulation from the Microsoft Excel program (randbetween formula) and allocation sequence concealment will use sealed envelope. Participants in the intervention and control groups will be treated with concealment from received envelopes containing random numbers from the randomization procedure. Outcome assessor (Nurse who appointed by researcher to be responsible for collection of outcome data) and data analysts will be blinded from participant allocation. This blinding is carried out, due to the technical nature of VR interventions, making it difficult to blind study participant during the intervention, thus to minimize the potential for methodological bias, the study must blind the outcome assessor or data analysts.

Patients who are scheduled for chemotherapy will go through an assessment stage (such as checking the latest laboratory results, medical records, vital signs, and electrocardiogram results) by the nurse on duty to determine if they are eligible and pass the screening to go to the chemotherapy session. Then, patients who pass the screening will be asked about their willingness to be involved and fill the informed consent. Patients who are willing (signed informed consent) will be given a sealed envelope. The envelope will contain random numbers for group allocation. Firstly, participants will be evaluated (pre-test) by the outcome assessor (research nurse) in the same room before entering the chemotherapy room. After the evaluation is complete, the researcher will open the envelope of the participants and see the random numbers obtained (without the participants' knowledge and the outcome assessor). If the numbers obtained are in the order of numbers 1 - 40, then participants will be directed to the chemotherapy room on the east side (intervention group); otherwise, if they get numbers 41 - 80, they will be directed to the chemotherapy room on the west side (control group). A research assistant (RA) will accompany each room. We will arrange and place the intervention and control groups in different chemotherapy rooms, with each research assistant will accompany the group to minimize contamination of information both between participants, participants and intervention providers, between intervention providers, intervention providers, and nurses or doctors on duty.

Participant in the intervention arm will receive immersive virtual reality intervention in the form of VR box (Shinecon 6.0 VR Box Virtual Reality Glasses with headphones). SVR is virtual relaxation and distraction therapy through a smartphone-based VR device (head-mounted display) which attached to the head of cancer patient during chemotherapy, by displaying a virtual environment of natural panoramas in 360-degree video and combined with traditional and classic musical audio instruments (non-copyright). SVR device is paired with smartphone using operating system either Android (minimum generation 11, Android 4.4 KitKat) or OS version 12, minimum screen size of 5.5-inch and maximum of 6.0-inch, screen resolution of at least 1080 x 1920 pixels, can connect to WIFI/ internet and provides a YouTube app to access 360 degree videos. SVR content uses original 360-degree videos produced by researchers using a video editor software for ± 10 minutes duration. The duration was determined based on previous study, where this duration may be effective in anticipating patient saturation related to content and preventing motion sickness. 360-degree video is created directly with chosen at panoramic views of Yogyakarta, Indonesia and Taipei, Taiwan. RA will provide information and introduce SVR intervention for approximately 5 minutes, help pair the SVR devices to the patient and start the intervention for approximately 10 minutes.

In the control group, participants will be given standard care in the form of guided imagery leaflets. It is an information sheets in the form of leaflets about the meaning, benefits, and ways of doing guided imagery relaxation therapy for cancer patient during chemotherapy. RA will guide the participants to practice the guided imagery relaxation therapy listed on the leaflet for ± 10 minutes.