Impact of Virtual Reality on Pain and Anxiety During Intravenous Cannulation Procedures Among Thalassemia Patients in UAE.

NCT ID: NCT07099196

Last Updated: 2025-08-01

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

115 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-05-24

Study Completion Date

2024-08-20

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The goal of this trial is to evaluate the effects of therapeutic Virtual Reality (VR) on pain, anxiety, fatigue and boredom during intravenous (IV) cannulations in comparison to standard of care (SOC).The main question it aims to answer is whether VR can act as an adjuvant for the IV cannulation procedure and improve overall patient experience.

Questionnaires were completed after the intravenous cannulation procedure during visits 1, 2 and 3. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to assess both primary (pain and anxiety) and secondary (fatigue and boredom) objectives, collecting self-reported data during the three visits.

Heart Rate (measured in beats per minute (BPM)) and Blood Pressure (measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg)) were measured after each procedure

* Participants will come for their routine cannulation and be recruited if willing
* Participants carry out the SOC procedure and are asked to fill out the questionnaires after
* The procedure is carried out with VR at the next appointment after 3-4 weeks
* This is repeated in the next visit

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Patients were screened at the Dubai Thalassemia Center during routine consultations, where the investigator present explained the study's objectives to the patient.

After consulting the patients' medical records and ensuring that there were no exclusion criteria and that the inclusion criteria were met, the investigators introduced themselves to the patients and their families, offering them the chance to take part in the study.

The investigators then explained to patients that they were eligible for this study and described the study's aims. Written, signed consent was obtained from adult patients and guardians of minors with an informed consent form.

Additionally, patients aged \<18 years were provided with an assent form with simplified information about the study. Investigators took the time to answer the patient's questions about the study's progress, expected results, and anticipated benefits.

No financial compensation was paid to participants in this study. Participation in this study had no financial consequences for the participant, nor on his/her health insurance, as this was part of the routine care and consultation for the patient.

Participants were free to withdraw from the study at any time during the procedure. In the event of withdrawal, the data collected up to that point was analyzed, so as not to compromise the value of the study. Regardless of withdrawal, the anonymity of all patient data was maintained.

Interventions Patients benefited from the standard of care during their first visit, then utilized the VR intervention during the cannulation in their second visit and finally, another VR session in the third.

We used therapeutic immersions curated by the France-based company Healthy Mind, with various environments, including elements of medical hypnosis and breathing exercises, tailored for use in invasive procedures.

For each patient, the overall duration of the study was 6-8 weeks to complete all three visits, considering the 3-4 week interval between their scheduled appointments at the thalassemia center.

It should be noted that appointments were postponed if the patient did not complete the routine cross-matching test prior to the intravenous cannulation procedure or did not show up for their appointments.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Thalassemia, Beta Thalassemia Pain Anxiety Blood Disorder

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Thalassemia patients

This arm acts as its own control, with participants receiving SOC for their first visit, and then receiving VR for their next 2 visits during their cannulation procedure.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Headset-based Virtual Reality Simulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

The device used was a HEALTHY-MIND© PICO G2 Virtual Reality headset, which is medically graded and suited for distraction and relaxation in clinical settings.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Headset-based Virtual Reality Simulation

The device used was a HEALTHY-MIND© PICO G2 Virtual Reality headset, which is medically graded and suited for distraction and relaxation in clinical settings.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

Discover alternative or legacy names that may be used to describe the listed interventions across different sources.

Medical Hypnosis Relaxation Tool virtual reality therapeutic virtual reality

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Patients with a diagnosis of thalassemia
* Thalassemia patients undergoing intravenous cannulation procedure
* Patients aged \>7 years (male, female, adult, pediatrics, national and non-national) at the Dubai Thalassemia Center

Exclusion Criteria

Pregnant or nursing women

* Patients of legal age but subject to legal protection measures or unable to express their consent
* Patients suffering from uncontrolled epilepsy
* Patients with visual or auditory disorders
* Patients suffering from claustrophobia or motion sickness
* Patients with face infections
* Patients with dissociative psychiatric pathologies and/or autism
Minimum Eligible Age

7 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Sameer Asim Khan

MD Student

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Dubai Thalassemia Center

Dubai, , United Arab Emirates

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United Arab Emirates

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

McLenon J, Rogers MAM. The fear of needles: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Adv Nurs. 2019 Jan;75(1):30-42. doi: 10.1111/jan.13818. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30109720 (View on PubMed)

Gerceker GO, Bektas M, Aydinok Y, Oren H, Ellidokuz H, Olgun N. The effect of virtual reality on pain, fear, and anxiety during access of a port with huber needle in pediatric hematology-oncology patients: Randomized controlled trial. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2021 Feb;50:101886. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2020.101886. Epub 2020 Dec 1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33321461 (View on PubMed)

Pandis N, Chung B, Scherer RW, Elbourne D, Altman DG. CONSORT 2010 statement: extension checklist for reporting within person randomised trials. BMJ. 2017 Jun 30;357:j2835. doi: 10.1136/bmj.j2835.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28667088 (View on PubMed)

Wong CL, Lui MMW, Choi KC. Effects of immersive virtual reality intervention on pain and anxiety among pediatric patients undergoing venipuncture: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2019 Jun 20;20(1):369. doi: 10.1186/s13063-019-3443-z.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31221208 (View on PubMed)

Walther-Larsen S, Petersen T, Friis SM, Aagaard G, Drivenes B, Opstrup P. Immersive Virtual Reality for Pediatric Procedural Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Hosp Pediatr. 2019 Jul;9(7):501-507. doi: 10.1542/hpeds.2018-0249. Epub 2019 Jun 3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31160472 (View on PubMed)

Deacon B, Abramowitz J. Anxiety sensitivity and its dimensions across the anxiety disorders. J Anxiety Disord. 2006;20(7):837-57. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2006.01.003. Epub 2006 Feb 8.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16466904 (View on PubMed)

Neugebauer V, Li W, Bird GC, Han JS. The amygdala and persistent pain. Neuroscientist. 2004 Jun;10(3):221-34. doi: 10.1177/1073858403261077.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15155061 (View on PubMed)

Wiederhold BK, Gao K, Sulea C, Wiederhold MD. Virtual reality as a distraction technique in chronic pain patients. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2014 Jun;17(6):346-52. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2014.0207.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24892196 (View on PubMed)

Gold JI, Kim SH, Kant AJ, Joseph MH, Rizzo AS. Effectiveness of virtual reality for pediatric pain distraction during i.v. placement. Cyberpsychol Behav. 2006 Apr;9(2):207-12. doi: 10.1089/cpb.2006.9.207.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16640481 (View on PubMed)

Mosso Vazquez JL, Mosso Lara D, Mosso Lara JL, Miller I, Wiederhold MD, Wiederhold BK. Pain Distraction During Ambulatory Surgery: Virtual Reality and Mobile Devices. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2019 Jan;22(1):15-21. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2017.0714. Epub 2018 Sep 25.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30256662 (View on PubMed)

Chan JJI, Yeam CT, Kee HM, Tan CW, Sultana R, Sia ATH, Sng BL. The use of pre-operative virtual reality to reduce anxiety in women undergoing gynecological surgeries: a prospective cohort study. BMC Anesthesiol. 2020 Oct 9;20(1):261. doi: 10.1186/s12871-020-01177-6.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33036555 (View on PubMed)

Chan E, Hovenden M, Ramage E, Ling N, Pham JH, Rahim A, Lam C, Liu L, Foster S, Sambell R, Jeyachanthiran K, Crock C, Stock A, Hopper SM, Cohen S, Davidson A, Plummer K, Mills E, Craig SS, Deng G, Leong P. Virtual Reality for Pediatric Needle Procedural Pain: Two Randomized Clinical Trials. J Pediatr. 2019 Jun;209:160-167.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.02.034. Epub 2019 Apr 29.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31047650 (View on PubMed)

Rutter CE, Dahlquist LM, Weiss KE. Sustained efficacy of virtual reality distraction. J Pain. 2009 Apr;10(4):391-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2008.09.016. Epub 2009 Feb 23.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19231295 (View on PubMed)

Aykanat Girgin B, Gol I. Reducing Pain and Fear in Children During Venipuncture: A Randomized Controlled Study. Pain Manag Nurs. 2020 Jun;21(3):276-282. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2019.07.006. Epub 2019 Sep 26.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31501078 (View on PubMed)

Kazak AE, Kassam-Adams N, Schneider S, Zelikovsky N, Alderfer MA, Rourke M. An integrative model of pediatric medical traumatic stress. J Pediatr Psychol. 2006 May;31(4):343-55. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsj054. Epub 2005 Aug 10.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16093522 (View on PubMed)

Scalone L, Mantovani LG, Krol M, Rofail D, Ravera S, Bisconte MG, Borgna-Pignatti C, Borsellino Z, Cianciulli P, Gallisai D, Prossomariti L, Stefano I, Cappellini MD. Costs, quality of life, treatment satisfaction and compliance in patients with beta-thalassemia major undergoing iron chelation therapy: the ITHACA study. Curr Med Res Opin. 2008 Jul;24(7):1905-17. doi: 10.1185/03007990802160834. Epub 2008 May 27.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18507891 (View on PubMed)

Al-Gazali L, Ali BR. Mutations of a country: a mutation review of single gene disorders in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Hum Mutat. 2010 May;31(5):505-20. doi: 10.1002/humu.21232.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20437613 (View on PubMed)

Baysal E. Molecular basis of beta-thalassemia in the United Arab Emirates. Hemoglobin. 2011;35(5-6):581-8. doi: 10.3109/03630269.2011.634706.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22074124 (View on PubMed)

Baysal E. Hemoglobinopathies in the United Arab Emirates. Hemoglobin. 2001 May;25(2):247-53. doi: 10.1081/hem-100104033.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11480786 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

Download supplemental materials such as informed consent forms, study protocols, or participant manuals.

Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form: Informed Consent Form: For Adults (>18yr) - English

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form: Assent Form: For Children (<18yr) - English

View Document

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

MBRU-IRB-2024-80

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Virtual Reality for Hemophilia
NCT03507582 COMPLETED NA