Virtual Reality Analgesia in Labor: The VRAIL Pilot Study

University of Michigan

Status: Completed

Conditions: Labor Pain

Treatments: Device: Virtual Reality

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02926469

HUM00116129

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of the proposed study is to evaluate the feasibility of using immersive Virtual Reality (VR) during labor. We will also explore whether VR distraction is helpful for reducing subjective pain during labor, even if this pain is severe or excruciating. We predict that VR is feasible in this setting and that VR distraction will reduce acute pain and anxiety during labor.

Full description

This study used an over the counter consumer product to create a virtual reality experience so that we could assess whether there was a decrease in perception of pain.

Enrollment: 28 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 45 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Any woman giving birth for the first time at or after 32 weeks
• Low risk pregnancy without obstetric complications
• In first stage of labor for vaginal delivery
• Desires non-pharmacologic alternative for pain control

Exclusion criteria

• Younger than 18 or older than 45 years of age
• Presence of fetal or placental anomaly
• High risk pregnancy or anesthetic concerns (BMI>40, difficult airway, hemorrhage, nonreassuring FHR, malpresentation)
• Current use of pharmacologic analgesia including neuraxial anesthesia
• Not capable of answering study measures using numeric rating scale
• Any face/head/neck injuries that interfere with the use of Virtual Reality equipment
• Any form of contact precautions
• Severe hearing or vision deficits
• Susceptibility to motion sickness
• Seizure history
• History of psychiatric disorder, chronic pain, migraines, or addiction
• Delirium, psychosis, any form of developmental delay, or Organic Brain Disorder
• Requiring an interpreter for communication

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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28 participants in 2 patient groups

Standard Care

No Intervention group

Description:

For patients presenting in labor and desiring standard care (natural childbirth without pain medications, systematic distraction, or alternative therapies) the patient will experience their contractions. Afterwards they will answer pain and anxiety questionnaires.

Virtual Reality

Experimental group

Description:

For patients presenting in labor and desiring standard care (natural childbirth without pain medications, systematic distraction, or alternative therapies) the patient will experience their contractions while using immersive Virtual Reality.Afterwards they will answer pain and anxiety questionnaires.

Treatment:

Device: Virtual Reality