Virtual Reality for Pain Management in Burn Patients

Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM)

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Pain

Treatments: Other: Virtual Reality

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04685486

1610017629

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study is a randomized proof-of-concept study to assess the efficacy of Virtual Reality (VR) vs standard of care in 50 adult patients in the New York Presbyterian Burn Unit. The participants who are randomized to receive the virtual reality intervention will also receive opioids, which is the standard of care and is known to be effective. Participants will be randomly assigned to two groups. The first group will receive VR during their painful procedure (e.g., wound dressing changes, physical therapy etc.) in addition to the standard of care. The other group will receive standard of care (and no VR).

Enrollment: 50 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 8+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 8 years and older
• Patients with a burn injury and is in the Burn Unit at New York Presbyterian
• Awake, alert, ambulatory
• The burn comprises less than 15% total body surface area (TBSA)
• The patient does not require conscious sedation such as ketamine for staple removal or wound dressing changes
• The patient is able to give informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of a cognitive disorder, psychotic disorder or bipolar I as determined by self-report from previous diagnosis
• Current opioid abuse

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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50 participants in 2 patient groups

Virtual Reality

Experimental group

Description:

Virtual reality-enhanced distraction using a portable head mounted display during panful events (such as wound dressing changes or physical therapy sessions) in addition to standard of care.

Treatment:

Other: Virtual Reality

Treatment as Usual

No Intervention group

Description:

Standard of care during painful event (such as wound dressing changes or physical therapy sessions).