Highlights
- •Immersive virtual reality (IVR) is an interactive form of distraction intervention.
- •Paediatric patients experience anxiety, nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy.
- •This exploratory trial applied IVR to paediatric patients undergoing chemotherapy.
- •IVR is feasible and acceptable to paediatric patients receiving chemotherapy.
- •IVR may be effective in managing anxiety and nausea in paediatric cancer patients.
Abstract
Purpose
To assess the feasibility and acceptability of immersive virtual reality for managing
anxiety, nausea and vomiting amongst paediatric patients with cancer receiving their
first chemotherapy.
Methods
An exploratory randomised control trial supplemented with qualitative interviews was
conducted to enrol Chinese paediatric patients receiving their first intravenous chemotherapy.
Participants were randomly assigned to intervention (three immersive virtual reality
sessions) or control (standard care) groups. The main outcome measures included (1)
feasibility parameters; (2) anxiety, nausea and vomiting; and (3) satisfaction with
the chemotherapy procedures. Qualitative data were collected by semi-structured individual
interviews with patients, parents and nurses.
Results
A total of 19 patients, 19 accompanying parents and 9 nurses were recruited. Results
suggested that the intervention was feasible as evidenced by the high consent rate,
low withdrawal rate and attrition rate. The intervention group showed significantly
better improvement in anxiety at T2 [Hedges’ effect size, ES = 1.25, 95% confidence
interval (CI): 0.22–2.17)] and T4 [ES = 1.87, 95% CI: 0.72–2.85], as well as greater
reduction in acute nausea at T4 [ES = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.02–1.87] than the control group.
Qualitative data yielded three categories including positive experiences and perceived
benefits of the intervention, and suggested improvements.
Conclusions
This study demonstrated the potential effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability
of immersive virtual reality for managing anxiety and acute nausea amongst paediatric
patients with cancer receiving their first chemotherapy.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 02, 2022
Accepted:
October 28,
2022
Received in revised form:
October 28,
2022
Received:
May 24,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
