Virtual Reality Assisted Patient Empowerment: Diagnose ATTR-Amyloidosis And Start Treatment (VRAP-DAAST)

Heinrich-Heine University, Duesseldorf

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Amyloidosis Cardiac; Virtual Reality

Treatments: Device: Intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifier

NCT05938218

Details and patient eligibility

About

ATTR amyloidosis is a serious condition with significant morbidity and mortality. In Germany, there are numerous unreported cases of untreated patients, and diagnosing and initiating treatment often requires multiple specialized tests. To address this, a study is being conducted to determine if virtual reality (VR)-based patient education can improve diagnosis rates, treatment initiation, and medication adherence compared to standard education methods.

Full description

Tafamidis is effective in reducing mortality and hospitalization in patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), and adherence to the drug is generally high. However, the main challenge lies in timely diagnosis and initiation of therapy. Virtual reality (VR) offers an immersive educational tool that surpasses conventional methods like brochures and videos, with patients preferring VR glasses. By preparing patients through VR, they can engage in informed conversations with physicians, understand the diagnostic process better, and be motivated to initiate therapy promptly. VR empowers patients and saves valuable time for physicians, and it has been well-received even among older cardiovascular patients

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 100 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• patients who present themselves for assessment of an unclear septal thickening with suspicion of cardiac amyloidosis.

Exclusion criteria

1. < 18 years
2. Active Medication with tafamidis
3. Cardiovascular Disease
4. highly impaired vision or hearing
5. advanced dementia syndrome
6. epilepsy
7. insufficient language skills

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

intervention

Experimental group

Description:

In this intervention, VR glasses with an information module are utilized, lasting approximately 25 minutes. This intervention takes place in the waiting room prior to the actual physician-patient conversation and complements the usual care provided through brochures

Treatment:

Device: Intervention

Control Group

No Intervention group

Description:

Usual Care