Changing the View of Pain: Using Virtual Reality As Adjunctive Therapy for Sickle Cell Pain in Pediatric Patients
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans
Summary
The goal of this randomized control clinical trial is to learn if virtual reality can be used to treat sickle cell pain in children. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does virtual reality reduce pain severity during a child's hospital stay for a vaso-occlusive pain crisis? Does virtual reality decrease the daily use of opiates? Researchers will compare standard therapy to the use of standard therapy plus a daily virtual reality experience to see if virtual reality works to treat sickle cell pain. All patients will: \- Be asked to fill out a pain assessment survey three times daily for up to 3 days If randomized to intervention arm, patients will: * Participate in an immersive virtual reality experience once daily for up to 3 days * Fill out a survey twice daily to monitor for side effects from virtual reality experience * Fill out a satisfaction survey once during the study period
Description
A vaso-occlusive pain crisis is the most common complaint for which a patient with sickle cell disease requires admission to the hospital. These pain episodes can often be complex and difficult to manage as medical providers know each individual patient perceives pain differently. In this regard, it has been well studied that a multi-disciplinary approach is required to address the biological, psychological, and social factors that comprise a patient's experienced pain. The current standard therapy for vaso-occlusive pain is heavily reliant on opioid therapy, which is why efforts have been mad…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 8–21 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Patient ≥ 8 up to 21 years of age 2. Presenting to CHNOLA ER or outside facility with chief complaint of vaso-occlusive pain crisis, requiring inpatient admission for further pain management 3. No known cognitive or neurological deficits 4. Parental/guardian permission (informed consent) and if appropriate, child assent. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients aged 7-years-old and younger. 2. Patents upon admission found to have sequela of their sickle cell disease that would require medical therapy greater than the standard of care for a vaso-occlusive pain event. This inclu…
Interventions
- DeviceKindVR Aqua Program
For this study, patients will be introduced to a virtual reality software program called Aqua, created by the company KindVR. This software program was designed specifically for use in pediatric patients. The software has been programmed into the Pico Neo 3 headset and provides an immersive 3D experience during which the patients explore a virtual underwater world inside a submarine with a goal of providing more color to treasure and different sea animals that they will engage with along their journey. The VR experience itself lasts approximately 15 minutes
Location
- Children's Hospital of New OrleansNew Orleans, Louisiana