VR for Pain & Sleep in Burn Patients: A RCT

NCT ID: NCT07306442

Last Updated: 2025-12-29

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

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

60 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-01-01

Study Completion Date

2025-06-01

Brief Summary

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This study aims to evaluate whether virtual reality (VR) can reduce pain and improve sleep quality during wound dressing changes in burn patients with 25-60% total body surface area (TBSA) burns, compared to standard care.

Detailed Description

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Background:

Burn injuries are extremely painful, especially during wound dressing changes. They also cause severe sleep problems, which can slow down healing. While medicines help, they often have side effects and don't fully solve these issues. Virtual reality (VR) is a new tool that distracts the brain from pain by immersing patients in a calming digital world. This study was designed to assess if VR could help with both pain and sleep in burn patients.

Methods:

We conducted a randomized controlled trial with 60 adult burn patients who had between 25% and 60% of their body burned. All patients were stable and able to understand instructions. We randomly assigned them into two groups: one group used VR headsets during their dressing changes, and the other group received standard care without VR. Pain was measured before and after the procedure using a simple 0-to-10 scale. Sleep quality was assessed using a standard questionnaire (PSQI) before and 24 hours after the treatment.

Conditions

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Burns Pain Sleep Disturbances

Keywords

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Virtual reality Non-pharmacological intervention Wound dressing Tbsa

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

This is a two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial comparing virtual reality intervention with standard care in burn patients.
Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Blinding was not feasible due to the visible nature of the VR headset and the need for participants and care providers to be aware of group assignment during the intervention. However, data collection and analysis were performed by blinded personnel.

Study Groups

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Virtual Reality Intervention Group

Participants in this group received immersive virtual reality distraction during their wound dressing change procedure. They wore an Oculus Quest 2 headset and were immersed in a calming, interactive virtual environment (e.g., a peaceful beach or forest) for the duration of the dressing change (approximately 30-45 minutes). The audio was enabled to enhance immersion.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Virtual Reality Distraction

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the experimental group received immersive virtual reality distraction during their wound dressing change procedure. They wore an Oculus Quest 2 headset and were immersed in a calming, interactive virtual environment (e.g., a peaceful beach or forest) for the duration of the dressing change (approximately 30-45 minutes). The audio was enabled to enhance immersion. This intervention aimed to reduce procedural pain and improve sleep quality through cognitive distraction and relaxation.

Standard Care

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants in the control group received standard care during their wound dressing change, which included verbal reassurance and routine analgesic administration as prescribed, without any additional distraction techniques such as virtual reality. No specific intervention was administered beyond standard clinical practice.

Standard Care Group

Participants in this group received standard care during their wound dressing change, which included verbal reassurance and routine analgesic administration as prescribed, without any additional distraction techniques such as virtual reality.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Standard Care

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants in the control group received standard care during their wound dressing change, which included verbal reassurance and routine analgesic administration as prescribed, without any additional distraction techniques such as virtual reality. No specific intervention was administered beyond standard clinical practice.

Interventions

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Virtual Reality Distraction

Participants in the experimental group received immersive virtual reality distraction during their wound dressing change procedure. They wore an Oculus Quest 2 headset and were immersed in a calming, interactive virtual environment (e.g., a peaceful beach or forest) for the duration of the dressing change (approximately 30-45 minutes). The audio was enabled to enhance immersion. This intervention aimed to reduce procedural pain and improve sleep quality through cognitive distraction and relaxation.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Standard Care

Participants in the control group received standard care during their wound dressing change, which included verbal reassurance and routine analgesic administration as prescribed, without any additional distraction techniques such as virtual reality. No specific intervention was administered beyond standard clinical practice.

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

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VR Therapy Routine Burn Care

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* \- Adult patients aged 18 to 60 years.
* Deep partial-thickness or full-thickness burns covering 25% to 60% of total body surface area (TBSA).
* Hemodynamic stability (systolic BP ≥90 mmHg, HR 60-100 bpm, no vasopressor use).
* Ability to understand and comprehend Persian language.
* Scheduled for at least one standardized, non-sedated wound dressing change procedure.

Exclusion Criteria

* \- Diagnosed psychiatric or neurological disorder (e.g., schizophrenia, epilepsy).
* Severe visual impairment (best-corrected visual acuity \<20/200) or auditory impairment.
* History of motion sickness or VR intolerance.
* Contraindications to VR use (e.g., active vertigo, uncontrolled hypertension).
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Abadan University of Medical Sciences

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Rasool Paygozar

PhD student in Health Sciences, Faculty Member, Abadan University of Medical Sciences

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Taleghani Burn and Trauma Hospital

Ahvāz, Khuzestan, Iran

Site Status

Countries

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Iran

References

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Hoffman HG, Chambers GT, Meyer WJ 3rd, Arceneaux LL, Russell WJ, Seibel EJ, Richards TL, Sharar SR, Patterson DR. Virtual reality as an adjunctive non-pharmacologic analgesic for acute burn pain during medical procedures. Ann Behav Med. 2011 Apr;41(2):183-91. doi: 10.1007/s12160-010-9248-7.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21264690 (View on PubMed)

Buysse DJ, Reynolds CF 3rd, Monk TH, Berman SR, Kupfer DJ. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: a new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Res. 1989 May;28(2):193-213. doi: 10.1016/0165-1781(89)90047-4.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 2748771 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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2004

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id