Using Virtual Reality Therapy During Hemodialysis to Reduce Symptoms and Improve Mental Wellbeing in Adults with Kidney Disease

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to study whether virtual reality therapy can reduce the symptoms and improve mental wellbeing in patients undergoing dialysis. Dialysis patients often face significant physical and emotional challenges during treatment, which can lower their quality of life. The study focuses on using virtual reality during dialysis sessions to help ease these burdens and improve overall patient experience. Participants will take part in a randomized crossover trial lasting about ten weeks, where they will receive virtual reality therapy during their regular dialysis sessions for one month. Each virtual reality session lasts 30 minutes and is conducted while the patient is receiving hemodialysis. After a one-week break, participants switch to a control period of one month where they receive standard dialysis care without virtual reality. The order of these periods is randomly assigned. During the study, patients will wear virtual reality glasses while lying in bed or chair during hemodialysis, with their vital signs monitored regularly. They will also complete questionnaires about their physical and mental health at set times. Researchers will measure symptom burden, mental wellbeing, heart rate, blood pressure, and assess how acceptable and appropriate virtual reality therapy is from both patient and clinical staff perspectives. The total study duration, including both phases and washout, is approximately ten weeks.

Does Virtual Reality Improve Symptom Burden in Dialysis Patients?