Using Virtual Reality Technology to Improve Patient Experience and Quality of Care During Brachytherapy

April 24, 2026 updated by: University of Arkansas

The primary objective is to demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating VR distraction into the brachytherapy and radiotherapy clinical workflow.

The secondary objective is to determine if VR distraction during brachytherapy treatment for cervical cancer improves subjects' satisfaction, procedural/acute pain, and need for analgesics or anxiolytics.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This will be a prospective pilot study conducted at UAMS. All subjects will experience VR distraction using a crossover design in which each subject receives four rounds of brachytherapy: two rounds with VR distraction and two rounds without VR distraction. Brachytherapy will be conducted per SoC workflow. Subjects will be placed into four treatment-sequence groups in a 1:1:1:1 allocation ratio via permuted block randomization with randomized block sizes of four or eight.

The four treatment-sequence groups will follow the four-session treatment schedules outlined below, in which "V" denotes the sessions when VR distraction is used while "N" denotes the sessions when it is not:

  • Sequence Group A will be treated according to schedule VVNN.
  • Sequence Group B will be treated according to schedule VNNV.
  • Sequence Group C will be treated according to schedule NNVV.
  • Sequence Group D will be treated according to schedule NVVN.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
20

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Arkansas
      • Little Rock, Arkansas, United States, 72205
        • Recruiting
        • University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
        • Contact:
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Female, ≥ 18 years of age
  • Histopathologic diagnosis of gynecologic cancer (endometrial, cervical, vaginal, vulvar) that requires intracavitary brachytherapy with a tandem or interstitial brachytherapy
  • Able to provide written consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Severe vision or hearing problems that may hinder the ability to see or hear clearly through the VR headset or other condition that may interfere with the placement of the VR headset such as a head, ear or facial wound
  • History of seizure disorder, severe motion sickness, dizziness, or migraine headaches precipitated by visual auras
  • Known history of elevated intraocular pressure
  • Claustrophobia, thalassophobia, cleithrophobia or similar phobias
  • Any other significant medical or psychiatric conditions which, in the opinion of the enrolling investigator, may interfere with consent or compliance of the treatment regimen

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Sequence Group A
VR distraction occurring visits 1 and 2 with normal SOC therapy at visits 3 and 4.
Device: The Oculus Quest 2 Virtual Reality Headset

The hardware includes the wireless headset with integrated headphones which will block the sight and sounds of the clinical setting as well as the hand controllers for the interactive VR experience, which will be delivered through any of three VR software options (subject may choose one or more from the following options):

  • Titans of Space® PLUS developed by Drash VR, LLC (Murrieta, CA, USA)
  • TRIPP® developed by TRIPP, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Nature Treks VR published by Greener Games (Ironbridge, England, UK)
Experimental: Sequence Group B
VR distraction occurring visits 1 and 4 with normal SOC therapy at visits 2 and 3.
Device: The Oculus Quest 2 Virtual Reality Headset

The hardware includes the wireless headset with integrated headphones which will block the sight and sounds of the clinical setting as well as the hand controllers for the interactive VR experience, which will be delivered through any of three VR software options (subject may choose one or more from the following options):

  • Titans of Space® PLUS developed by Drash VR, LLC (Murrieta, CA, USA)
  • TRIPP® developed by TRIPP, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Nature Treks VR published by Greener Games (Ironbridge, England, UK)
Experimental: Sequence Group C
VR distraction occurring visits 3 and 4 with normal SOC therapy at visits 1 and 2.
Device: The Oculus Quest 2 Virtual Reality Headset

The hardware includes the wireless headset with integrated headphones which will block the sight and sounds of the clinical setting as well as the hand controllers for the interactive VR experience, which will be delivered through any of three VR software options (subject may choose one or more from the following options):

  • Titans of Space® PLUS developed by Drash VR, LLC (Murrieta, CA, USA)
  • TRIPP® developed by TRIPP, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Nature Treks VR published by Greener Games (Ironbridge, England, UK)
Experimental: Sequence Group D
VR distraction occurring visits 2 and 3 with normal SOC therapy at visits 3 and 4.
Device: The Oculus Quest 2 Virtual Reality Headset

The hardware includes the wireless headset with integrated headphones which will block the sight and sounds of the clinical setting as well as the hand controllers for the interactive VR experience, which will be delivered through any of three VR software options (subject may choose one or more from the following options):

  • Titans of Space® PLUS developed by Drash VR, LLC (Murrieta, CA, USA)
  • TRIPP® developed by TRIPP, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
  • Nature Treks VR published by Greener Games (Ironbridge, England, UK)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
The number of eligible subjects who enroll onto the study.
Time Frame: 3 weeks
3 weeks
The number of subjects who withdraw or are withdrawn from the study.
Time Frame: 3 weeks
3 weeks
The number of subjects who successfully complete the study questionnaires for satisfaction, procedural pain, and anxiety.
Time Frame: 3 weeks
3 weeks
The number of times a technical problem occurs with the VR distraction
Time Frame: 3 weeks
3 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Determination of VR distraction during brachytherapy treatment for cervical cancer pain
Time Frame: 3 weeks
Compare the subject's procedural pain scores (using a visual analog scale [VAS] pre- and post-procedure) between sessions with VR and sessions without VR.
3 weeks
Opiod dose
Time Frame: 3 weeks
Compare the dose(s) of opioid pain medication per session (using morphine milligram equivalents [MMEs]) between sessions with VR and sessions without VR.
3 weeks
Benzodiazepine dose
Time Frame: 3 weeks
Compare the dose(s) of benzodiazepine anxiolytics per session (using a benzodiazepine conversion calculator) between sessions with VR and sessions without VR
3 weeks
Determination of VR distraction during brachytherapy treatment for cervical cancer on anxiety.
Time Frame: 3 weeks
Compare the subject's procedural anxiety scores (using a VAS pre- and post-procedure) between sessions with VR and sessions without VR.
3 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Arkansas

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Santanu Samanta, MD, University of Arkansas

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 8, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 20, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 27, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
July 1, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 30, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 24, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 261231

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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