Promotion of Emotional Well-being in Hospitalized Cancer Patients by Virtual Reality

University of Valencia

Status: Completed

Conditions: Cancer

Treatments: Behavioral: Virtual Reality Intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03103711

ONCOTIC-I

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of a brief psychological intervention supported by Information and Communication Technologies, on the subjective well-being of hospitalized cancer patients. Participants are randomly assigned to one of 2 conditions: Intervention condition (4 Virtual reality sessions) and Control condition (waiting list control group).

Enrollment: 76 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• adults with any cancer diagnosis
• hospitalized for at least 1 week
• Karnofsky functional state ≥50
• life expectancy ≥2 months

Exclusion criteria

• serious psychopathology
• cognitive impairment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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76 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

The entire intervention is composed by four 30 minutes sessions along 1 week. Its focus is on the promotion of well-being by the use of two virtual environments ("Emotional Parks" and "Walk through Nature"). These environments allow participants to involve in different exercises (working with self statements, videos, images, slow breathing, focus on the present exercises) with the purpose of increase positive emotional states.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Virtual Reality Intervention

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants receive the medical treatment deliver by the hospital. They fulfill several questionnaires at two moments (pre and post 1 week after). After this, they have the possibility to receive the psychological intervention.