Virtual Reality Therapy Using Cognitive Behavioral Techniques for Managing Chronic Cancer Pain Development and Testing of a VR Device Prototype

What this Trial Is About

Many patients with cancer experience chronic pain that significantly affects their quality of life. This research aims to develop and test a new virtual reality VR therapy based on cognitive behavioral therapy CBT principles to help manage chronic cancer pain. The study is designed to explore the feasibility, acceptability, usability, safety, and initial clinical impact of this VR therapy compared to a tablet-based video control intervention. The study involves creating and refining a VR-CAN prototype tailored for patients with chronic cancer pain. Participants will be randomly assigned to either use the VR-CAN therapy or a tablet-based two-dimensional skills intervention. Both groups will use their assigned treatment at home for 10 minutes daily over 14 days. The VR-CAN group will experience immersive VR content designed to provide pain relief through distraction and behavioral techniques, while the control group will view non-CBT content on a tablet. Participants will complete assessments throughout the 14-day treatment period, including measures of device feasibility, acceptability, usability, safety, pain interference, mood, coping strategies, pain severity, and self-efficacy. Data will also be collected through daily pain ratings during each use of the assigned intervention. Post-intervention interviews will gather participant feedback to improve the VR therapy for future studies. The total participation time is two weeks, with no long-term follow-up described.

Cognitive Behavioral Theory-assisted Virtual Reality for Chronic CANcer Pain (VR-CAN)