Feasibility Study of Reality PAWS Mixed Reality Dog Program for Children Aged 8 to 21 in Hospital Isolation Using Meta Quest 3 VR

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the Reality PAWS mixed reality program using a Meta Quest 3 VR headset to see if it is a suitable and safe alternative to in-person dog therapy for children in isolation. The study focuses on pediatric patients aged 8 to 21 years who are hospitalized and isolated, aiming to understand the programs feasibility, patient compliance, and effects on pain, anxiety, and loneliness. Participants will wear a Meta Quest 3 VR headset and interact with the Reality PAWS program for up to 30 minutes per session. The program allows engagement with a virtual dog through activities like walking, commands, playing fetch, and petting. This intervention is delivered during hospital stays and is designed for children unable to receive visits from facility dogs due to isolation precautions. During the study, children will complete surveys on demographics, anxiety, pain, loneliness, sickness, perceived exertion, and immersion before and after using the program. Researchers will monitor recruitment and intervention feasibility, software usability, sickness symptoms, immersion levels, and any adverse events over approximately six months. Assessments include various anxiety, pain, loneliness, and boredom scales collected around the session times.

Feasibility of the Reality PAWS Program for Children in Isolation