Using virtual reality to manage pain after thoracoscopic surgery

Effectiveness and Safety of Adjuvant Software Based on Virtual Reality for Post-thoracoscopic Surgery Pain (VR-TSP)

Not applicable Interventional Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital · NCT06574451

This study is testing if virtual reality can help reduce pain for patients after they have thoracoscopic surgery.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment215 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorGuangdong Provincial People's Hospital Academic / other
Locations4 sites (Guangzhou, Guangdong and 3 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06574451 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness and safety of virtual reality software as an adjunct therapy for managing acute postoperative pain in patients who have undergone thoracoscopic surgery. A total of 215 patients will be enrolled and assessed for pain levels 24 hours post-surgery. Those with significant pain will be randomly assigned to either receive the virtual reality intervention or standard care without it. Pain evaluations will occur within 30 minutes of the intervention to determine its effectiveness.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older who have undergone thoracoscopic surgery and have a postoperative pain score of 4 or higher.

Not a fit: Patients with severe cognitive impairments or neurological conditions that affect their ability to use the virtual reality software may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve pain management for patients recovering from thoracoscopic surgery.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promise in using virtual reality for pain management, suggesting potential success for this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* 1.Age greater than or equal to 18 years.

  2.Patients within 1 day after thoracoscopic surgery.

  3.Junior high school degree or above, Mandarin communication is unimpeded, with certain Internet knowledge and mobile phone reading and writing skills.

  4.The score of the numeric grading scale (NRS) at 24 hours postoperatively ≥ 4 points.

  5.Patients who are able to understand the purpose of the study, voluntarily participate in and sign the informed consent form, and are willing to complete the follow-up as required by the protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

* 1.Patients with severe cognitive impairment.

  2.Patients with a previous diagnosis of epilepsy, dementia, migraine, or other neurological disease that may result in the inability to use postoperative analgesic adjuvant therapy software or that may have adverse effects.

  3.Patients who are unable to understand or speak Mandarin.

  4.Patients who have visual abnormalities, severe hearing impairment, or motion sickness, etc., and are unable to view VR.

  5.Patients with trauma to the eyes, face, or neck that prevents the comfortable use of the VR device.

  6.Patients with severe heart, liver, kidney, hematologic, digestive, nervous system diseases and malnutrition.

  7.Patients who have previously used virtual reality software for pain that has not responded to treatment.

  8.Patients with a history of severe alcohol abuse, long-term heavy drinking, and symptoms of alcohol dependence.

  9.Patients who have participated in any analgesic interventional study within the past 1 week.

  10.Females who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during the study.

  11.The patient or their immediate family member works for a digital health or pharmaceutical company for acute or chronic pain treatment.

  12.Patients who are unable to use electronic devices such as smartphones.

  13.Other conditions that the investigator considers inappropriate for participation in a clinical trial.

Where this trial is running

Guangzhou, Guangdong and 3 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Acute Postoperative PainVideo-assisted Thoracic SurgeryVirtual RealityVATSVR
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.