Immersive virtual reality to reduce wound‑care pain in long‑term care residents (pilot)
Official title: The Pain Reduction Using Immersive Virtual Reality During Wound Care Evaluation Study at Maimonides (PRISM) - Pilot Study
Run by McGill University · NCT07447830 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This pilot will try immersive virtual reality headsets during dressing changes to see if VR reduces pain and distress for long‑term care residents with pressure ulcers.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 25 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | McGill University Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Montreal, Quebec and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 1, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 1, 2026 |
| Study ends | April 15, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | March 5, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07447830 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are long‑term care residents with pressure ulcers who receive regular dressing changes and can tolerate an immersive VR headset.
✕Probably not a fit
People who are blind or have severe visual impairment, have peripheral neuropathy, head or ear wounds preventing headset placement, or recent dangerous/aggressive behavior are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Up to 20 residents at the Donald Berman Maimonides Geriatric Centre who receive regular wound care will be enrolled. Each participant will complete three consecutive two‑week phases—usual care (baseline), VR during wound care (intervention), and usual care again (washout)—while wearing an immersive headset showing calm, low‑stimulus scenes. Pain will be measured with validated tools and the team will record agitation, mood, and other behavioral indicators, with nursing staff providing feedback on feasibility and acceptability. The within‑subject crossover design and short phases are intended to provide preliminary evidence of pain reduction and practical feasibility in this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could lower pain and distress during dressing changes and make wound care more comfortable for residents in long‑term care.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in other clinical settings have shown immersive VR can reduce procedural pain, but evidence specifically for wound care in long‑term care residents is limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Resident of LTC for ≥2 weeks * Receiving regular wound care for pressure ulcers * Able to tolerate iVR headset use * (If cognitively apt) able to understand English or French Exclusion Criteria: * Blindness, severe cataracts, or glaucoma * Allergies to synthetic plastics or headset materials * Head or ear wounds preventing headset placement * Peripheral neuropathy * Dangerous or aggressive behaviors in the past 30 days
Where it's running
-
Donald Berman Maimonides Maimonides Geriatric Centre
Montreal, Quebec, Canada Recruiting -
Donald Berman Maimonides Maimonides Geriatric Centre
Montreal, Quebec, Canada Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Machelle Wilchesky, PhD — Lady Davis Institute-CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal
- Study coordinator: Machelle Wilchesky, PhD
- Email: machelle.wilchesky@mcgill.ca
- Phone: (514) 340-8222
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.