Using virtual reality meditation to relieve cancer pain

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study explores the use of immersive virtual reality to facilitate meditation practices among cancer patients experiencing chronic pain. It involves a randomized controlled trial with 129 participants divided into three groups: an experimental group using VR meditation, an active control group using a mobile phone for meditation, and a passive control group. Participants will undergo assessments of their quality of life, psychological well-being, and pain levels before and after the intervention. The goal is to determine the effectiveness of virtual reality meditation in improving pain management and overall quality of life for cancer patients.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Be followed up at the Pain Therapy and Palliative Care Service (STDCP) to control symptoms resulting from any type of cancer at any stage;
* Have a diagnosis of chronic pain, recorded in the medical records.
* Be between 18 and 75 years old on the date of the first collection;
* Be able to understand Portuguese (read and write);
* Have normal vision and hearing;
* Have a cell phone with an Android system;
* Be able to make head movements and have sufficient motor control to make body movements;
* Agree to take part in the study and sign the Informed Consent Form (ICF).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Indigenous patients (due to cultural and linguistic peculiarities and special legislation);
* Patients with records of serious psychiatric illnesses (DSM-5 - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - schizophrenia, schizotypal disorders, delusional disorders, borderline and dementias);
* Impairment of the ability to understand or communicate based on the researcher's assessment;
* Report of discomfort with the use of Immersive Virtual Reality;
* Progression of the disease with limitation in maintaining the proposed regular outpatient visits;
* Patients with brain tumors, brain metastases or a previous history of seizures.

Where it's running

• Fundação Centro de Controle de Oncologia do Estado do Amazonas - FCECON
  Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Emily S Montarroyos — Fundação Centro de Controle de Oncologia do Estado do Amazonas (FCECON)
• Study coordinator: Emily S Montarroyos
• Email: emilymontarroyos@hotmail.com
• Phone: +55 (92) 988024440

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Phenotype-based Pain Guidance for Head and Neck Cancer-Related Pain (pilot)

  This pilot test sees if tailoring pain treatment to a patient’s pain type can reduce head and neck cancer pain in adults who haven’t started cancer treatment yet.

  Recruiting Phase 2 Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre · Lahore, Punjab Province · NCT07919444

• Triple-target radiosurgery for cancer pain using pituitary and thalamic neuromodulation

  This study tests whether focused brain radiosurgery to the pituitary and specific thalamic regions can reduce pain in adults with cancer that’s not controlled by opioids or other treatments.

  Recruiting Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center · Los Angeles, California · NCT07605546

• Hydromorphone plus electroacupuncture and ear acupressure for refractory cancer pain

  This trial tests whether adding electroacupuncture and ear acupressure to hydromorphone extended-release tablets helps relieve refractory cancer pain.

  Recruiting Early Phase 1 Qinghai Red Cross Hospital · Xining · NCT07489625

• Tibetree topical herbal plasters for people using opioids for cancer pain

  This trial will try Tibetree topical herbal plasters together with prescribed opioids to see if they reduce localized cancer-related pain for adults who are currently taking short-term oral opioids.

  Recruiting at 7 sites Phase 1 Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · Basking Ridge, New Jersey and 6 other locations · NCT07447856

• Transdiscal versus paravertebral splanchnic nerve neurolysis for upper abdominal cancer pain

  This will test whether the transdiscal or the paravertebral splanchnic nerve neurolysis gives better pain relief for people with severe upper abdominal cancer pain that hasn't responded to medicines.

  Recruiting Ankara Etlik City Hospital · Ankara · NCT07445386

• MRI-guided focused ultrasound mesencephalotomy for opioid-resistant head, neck, and brachial cancer pain

  This study will try MRI-guided focused ultrasound to make a tiny, precise lesion in the midbrain to relieve severe, opioid-resistant head, neck, or brachial cancer pain.

  Recruiting University of Virginia · Boston, Massachusetts and 5 other locations · NCT07405645

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.