'LIFEView' Audiovisual Technology: Virtual Travel to Support Wellbeing and Quality of Life at the End of Life

March 2, 2023 updated by: Bruyere Research Institute

This study is looking to assess the use of an audio-video technology called 'LIFEView' using a laptop and large-screen TV. This tool intends to support life review or reminiscence of past experiences, escape from current surroundings using virtual travel, or virtual visits to a location that one might have liked to visit in their lifetime but could not. We hope that by using this technology, we can support better wellbeing and quality of life for patients receiving palliative care services within the community and on an inpatient palliative care unit, or for patients at the end-of-life within Bruyère long-term care homes.

Due to the potential for disorientation and reduced physical mobility, patients receiving palliative and end-of-life care may be unable to fully enjoy an immersive experience using a virtual reality (VR) headset. To reduce the possibility of disorientation that may arise from using a VR headset with 'LIFEView', our research team will use the 'LIFEView' prototype software loaded on a laptop and connected to a mobile high-definition 50" TV for inpatient PCU and LTC facility use, or to a patient's personal TV within their residence in the community. This setup will also improve accessibility to 'LIFEView' as a result of its relatively low-tech requirements (i.e. TV + laptop), and allows for an opportunity for patients and their loved ones to share cherished memories and stories.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This project is designed to address the psychosocial and existential suffering commonly experienced by palliative care patients. Technology-based reminiscence and dignity therapy interventions have been demonstrated to improve well-being and quality of life in older adults (Lazar et al, 2014), although little evidence exists to support the use of these technology-based interventions in a palliative care context.

These technologies may require modification to meet the needs of PEOLC patients that are at risk for delirium, a neuropsychiatric condition characterized by fluctuating disruptions in awareness, focus and cognition (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Delirium can be experienced by up to 88% of patients at the end of life (Hosie et al., 2013). Moreover, patients in PEOLC settings may also have limited mobility or may be bedbound. Due to the potential for disorientation and reduced physical mobility, patients receiving PEOLC may be unable to fully enjoy an immersive experience using a virtual reality (VR) headset. To reduce the possibility of disorientation that may arise from using a VR headset with 'LIFEView', our research team plans to use the 'LIFEView' prototype software loaded on a laptop and connected to a mobile high-definition 40-42" TV for inpatient PCU and LTC facility use, or to a patient's personal TV within their residence in the community.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

38

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • Canada
    • Ontario
      • Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 5C8
        • Bruyère Continuing Care

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Any patients who are able to complete the outcome measures (Section 5.0 Outcomes) and capable of consenting to participating in the research study will be included.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients experiencing the following, as determined by the clinical care team:

  • Delirium
  • Severe cognitive impairment (as determined by the clinical care team)
  • Known behavioural abnormalities (e.g. overtly aggressive behavior) that in the opinion of the clinical care team might impede any meaningful participation in the project
  • A score of <30% on the Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) (Anderson et al., 1996) at the time of consent
  • Individuals who are already currently using Motiview paired with a exercise bicycle in the LTC setting
  • Those who are in the opinion of attending physician or clinical team too unwell to participate in the project
  • Unable to complete outcome measures indicated

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: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 'LIFEView' intervention

The 'LIFEView' session(s) involves the use of audiovisual software by Motitech AS (technology provided by and used with permission from Motitech AS). For its primary uses as Motiview, the audiovisual software was coupled to a mobile user-adapted cycle-trainer. Since a secondary benefit of the virtual cycle trip may include reminiscence which may in-turn facilitate conversation of past experiences, the audiovisual software is being adapted for use in reminiscence therapy for a palliative care population.

As there is an extensive library available to participants and 'LIFEView' sessions could potentially be longer than feasible for research personnel to conduct, each 'LIFEView' session will be limited to up to 3 videos per session or up to 1 hour of videos per session, whichever is a shorter duration. Additional post-study 'LIFEView' sessions can be provided upon request from participants.
Other: 'LIFEView'
A prototype audiovisual technology in development by Motitech AS.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in psychological and physical symptoms measured by the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-revised (ESAS-r) (Bruera et al., 1991; Watanabe et al., 2011)
Time Frame: At least 24 hours before using 'LIFEView', and directly after and 48 hours after using 'LIFEView' (pre- and post-'LIFEView')
The ESAS-r is a 9-item symptom assessment tool that assesses pain, tiredness, drowsiness, nausea, lack of appetite, shortness of breath, depression, anxiety, and feeling of wellbeing. Each item is rated by patients on a 0-10 scale (0= best possible, 10= worst possible).
At least 24 hours before using 'LIFEView', and directly after and 48 hours after using 'LIFEView' (pre- and post-'LIFEView')

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in quality of life measured by the McGill Quality of Life-Revised questionnaire (Cohen et al., 2017)
Time Frame: At least 24 hours before using 'LIFEView', and 48 hours after using 'LIFEView' (pre- and post-'LIFEView')
The MQOL-R will be used to assess patient quality of life. There are 4 parts to the questionnaire on overall quality of life, physical symptoms, feelings and thoughts, and social aspects of the participant's life. Each statement is rated on a 0-10 scale (0= worst possible,10= best possible).
At least 24 hours before using 'LIFEView', and 48 hours after using 'LIFEView' (pre- and post-'LIFEView')
Psychosocial effects and aspects of quality of life as determined by semi-structured interviews for consenting participants and their consenting family member(s) or caregiver(s).
Time Frame: Within 24 hours of using 'LIFEView' (post-'LIFEView')
These interviews will explore the impact of the 'LIFEView' intervention on patient quality of life, patient-family and patient-caregiver interactions, perceptions of the 'LIFEView' intervention as a tool to improve well-being and quality of life in palliative care settings, and feasibility of using volunteer services to support the long-term sustainability of this intervention across care settings.
Within 24 hours of using 'LIFEView' (post-'LIFEView')
Change in heart rate
Time Frame: At least 24 hours before using 'LIFEView', and directly after using 'LIFEView' (pre- and post-'LIFEView')
Heart rate (beats per minute; bpm) will be measured using a wireless cuff.
At least 24 hours before using 'LIFEView', and directly after using 'LIFEView' (pre- and post-'LIFEView')
Change in blood pressure
Time Frame: At least 24 hours before using 'LIFEView', and directly after using 'LIFEView' (pre- and post-'LIFEView')
Blood pressure (mm Hg) will be measured using a wireless cuff.
At least 24 hours before using 'LIFEView', and directly after using 'LIFEView' (pre- and post-'LIFEView')

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Aspects of participant's level of general well-being as per the Greater Cincinnati Chapter Well-Being Observation tool (Rentz, 2002; Kinney & Rentz, 2005) during the 'LIFEView' session, and other observable phenomena
Time Frame: From initiation of the 'LIFEView' session and directly after using 'LIFEView' (during and post-'LIFEView')

The Greater Cincinnati Chapter Well-Being Observation tool will be used by the research team members to assess each patient's state of general well-being. There are 6 domains, for which each statement is rated on a 0-4 scale (0= never, 1= rarely, 2= some of the time, 3= most of the time, 4= always).

Observational field notes will be taken by the Research Coordinator during the course of study participation on observable phenomena before, during, and after the 'LIFEView' session (e.g. verbalized reminiscence, feelings… etc.). Patients and their family members will only be identified by their participant study ID in field notes.
From initiation of the 'LIFEView' session and directly after using 'LIFEView' (during and post-'LIFEView')

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Bruyere Research Institute

Collaborators

Bruyère Continuing Care

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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)

October 16, 2019

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 31, 2022

Study Completion (Actual)

December 31, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 19, 2019

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 22, 2019

First Posted (Actual)

July 24, 2019

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 3, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 2, 2023

Last Verified

March 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • LIFEView 2

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

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.

Clinical Trials on Quality of Life

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Italy

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe