Using Virtual Reality to Reduce Anxiety in Patients Getting Epidural Injections

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 evaluates the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (VR) in reducing anxiety for patients undergoing cervical epidural steroid injections (ESI). Participants will be divided into two groups: one experiencing VR during their pre-procedural wait and the other receiving standard care without VR. The primary outcome will be the reduction in anxiety levels, measured by a Numeric Rating Scale, and the study will also assess changes in sympathetic nervous system activity. The goal is to determine if VR can significantly alleviate anxiety compared to traditional waiting methods.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18-80 years old at day of enrollment
* Neck pain patient deemed to be a candidate for pain control treatment with interventional fluoroscopically guided cervical epidural steroid injection as determined by their pain medicine provider based on history, physical exam, and radiographic findings
* Willingness to undergo pre-procedural intervention of VR viewing experience or equivalent pre-procedural wait time
* No history of prior epidural steroid injections
* Did not receive sedatives prior to or during procedure

Exclusion Criteria:

* Refusal / inability to participate or provide consent
* Contraindications to injection (anticoagulated states, allergy to components of injection, local infection at injection site, current infectious process or treatment of antibiotics for current infection)
* Uncontrolled anxiety disorder or untreated/inadequately treated psychiatric disorder
* History of Alzheimer's, dementia, or cognitive dysfunction
* Patient currently taking benzodiazepines
* Severe motion sickness
* Seizure disorder
* Vision loss
* Non-English speaking patients

Where it's running

• Anesthesiology Pain Medicine Center
  Chicago, Illinois, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Jason Ross, MD — Northwestern Univesity
• Study coordinator: Paul Fitzgerald, RN,BSN,MS
• Email: p-fitzgerald2@northwestern.edu
• Phone: 312-695-1064

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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.