Using Virtual Reality to Reduce Anxiety in Patients Getting Epidural Injections
Assessing the Impact of Immersive Virtual Reality Experience on Injection-related Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Interventional Pain Spine Procedures: a Prospective Randomized Trial
This study tests if using virtual reality can help reduce anxiety for patients waiting to get cervical epidural steroid injections compared to standard care.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 64 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Northwestern University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Chicago, Illinois) |
| Trial ID | NCT05744336 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
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.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18-80 with neck pain who are scheduled for cervical epidural steroid injections.
Not a fit: Patients with uncontrolled anxiety disorders or those with contraindications to the injection will not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a non-pharmacological method to significantly reduce anxiety in patients undergoing painful procedures.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promising results using virtual reality for anxiety reduction in various medical settings, indicating potential success for this approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
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 this trial is running
Chicago, Illinois
- 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
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.