Virtual Reality on Pain, Stress, and Affect in the Infusion Clinic

The Effects of Virtual Reality on Pain, Stress, and Affect in the Infusion Clinic

This study will investigate the ability of virtual reality to function as a novel distraction intervention and improve the experience of patients who are receiving chemotherapy in the infusion clinic.

Objectives:

Primary Objective:

- To deploy and evaluate virtual reality as an intervention for stress, pain, and negative affect

Secondary Objective:

- To evaluate cyber sickness and patient satisfaction related to the virtual reality treatment

Inclusion Criteria:

• At or above the age of 18
• English Speaking
• Diagnosed with cancer
• No previous history of seizures, losses of awareness, or other symptoms linked to an epileptic condition
• Not sensitive to motion sickness
• Not currently experiencing any contagious conditions, infections, or diseases (particularly of the eyes, skin, or scalp)
• Does not use a device to regulate heart rate or rhythm (such as a pacemaker)
• Not taking antiarrhythmic medications
• Not actively receiving radiopharmaceutical therapy

Exclusion:

• To ensure that there is sufficient time to complete the virtual reality treatment, patients who are scheduled for visits for periods of less than one hour will not be included in this study. Additionally, patients must consent to participating in the study on the day of the experience.
• Patients who are asleep prior to consenting will not be asked to participate in the study