VR-based sensory stimulation to prevent delirium in ICU patients
Official title: Virtual Reality-based Sensory Stimulation for Delirium Prevention in Intensive Care Units: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Run by Chinese University of Hong Kong · NCT07806422 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial tests whether immersive virtual reality sensory stimulation can delay or reduce delirium in adult ICU patients compared with a non-immersive, tablet-based sensory experience.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 300 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Chinese University of Hong Kong Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Shenzhen, Guangdong) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 1, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2029 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | September 8, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07806422 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (18+) admitted to the ICU, expected to require mechanical ventilation and stay at least 48 hours, and who are awake or lightly sedated and able to consent.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with pre-existing cognitive impairment, delirium at enrollment, severe sensory impairments, or conditions making VR headset use impractical may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This pilot randomized trial compares immersive VR-based sensory stimulation to a tablet-based active control delivering the same nature-based content in adult ICU patients. Participants are randomized 1:1 and receive a single 20-minute session, with outcomes including time to first delirium, delirium incidence, duration and severity, ICU length of stay, ventilation duration, cognitive function at 3 months, and quality of life. The goal is to determine if immersion adds value beyond the sensory content alone while accounting for ICU environmental factors that contribute to delirium. The study is conducted as a collaboration between the Chinese University of Hong Kong and three Shenzhen hospitals in China.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, immersive VR sensory stimulation could reduce delirium burden and improve short- and long-term outcomes for ICU patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous sensory stimulation approaches have shown potential to delay delirium onset, but this VR-immersion approach is novel in ICU delirium prevention and its additive benefit is being tested.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 years or older * Admitted to the ICU * Undergoing or expected to require mechanical ventilation * Expected ICU stay of at least 48 hours * Awake or lightly sedated, defined as a Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale - (RASS) score between -1 and +1 * Able to understand and follow instructions * Provided informed consent \[or surrogate consent, if applicable\] Exclusion Criteria: * Pre-existing cognitive impairment or dementia * Acute psychiatric illness at admission * Delirium at enrollment as assessed by CAM-ICU * Terminal-stage cancer * APACHE II score \> 20 * Severe uncorrectable hearing or visual impairment * Traumatic brain injury or intracranial drainage tubes that make use of the VR headset impractical
Where it's running
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Southern Medical University Shenzhen Hospital, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen People's Hospital
Shenzhen, Guangdong, China Recruiting
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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.