Virtual Reality and Children With Type 1 Diabetes

Virtual Reality's Impact on Children With Type 1 Diabetes: a Randomized Cross-over Trial on Anxiety, Pain, Adherence, and Glycemic Control

For children with type 1 diabetes (T1D), pain and needle phobia can cause postponing of changes in insulin pump infusion sets and continuous glucose monitors, and thus worsen glycemic control. We aim to assess the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) technology, in reducing pain and anxiety, and improving regimen adherence and glycemic control among children with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Children with T1D, managed with continuous glucose monitoring and insulin pumps, will be recruited for a randomized cross-over trial. Children will be randomized to one of two interventions for diabetes management: group 1 will use VR glasses first and group 2 will listen to vocal-guided affective imagery first (audio). After 1 month, the interventions will be crossed over. The outcome measures will include pain and anxiety assessment, regimen adherence, glycemic control, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) of VR satisfaction and effectiveness.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Virtual Reality
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Virtual reality glasses; Device: Vocal-guided affective imagery

Detailed Description

Children with T1D aged 8 to 15 years old, managed with CGM and insulin pumps, will be screened for participation. Key exclusion criteria include medical conditions that precluded use of the VR tool, such as epilepsy or vertigo, and diagnosed anxiety disorder.

Children will be randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to one of the two groups. Upon every change of a CGM or pump infusion set, parents will be instructed to actively coach the child to use the designated intervention, VR glasses, or vocal-guided affective imagery, during the entire procedure. The VR glasses will be "PICO" model neo 2. The visual and vocal data content include both calming, affective imagery and interactive gaming, supplied by "XR-Health Israel Ltd". The vocal-guided affective imagery during the procedure will be identical to the vocal guide in the VR glasses. We plan 40 children in each group. The study will last for 2 months.

Questionnaires to assess anxiety and pain will be given to the children at baseline, during every CGM / pump infusion set change (every 3-14 days, depending on the device), and at one and two months after study initiation. Regimen adherence will be measured by changes in the number of insertion sites on the participants' bodies and by their willingness to change CGM / pump infusion sets themselves. Questionnaires administered at baseline, one month, and two months after the intervention will assess the use of aiding measures. Glycemic control measures that will be measured are comprised of differences between the interventions, in the percentage of time in range (TIR) 70-180 mg/dL, the percentage of time below range I (TBRI) <70 mg/dL and TBRII <54 mg/dL, the percentage of time above range I (TARI) >180 mg/dL andTARII >250 mg/dL, estimated HbA1c as measured by glucose management indicator (GMI), mean glucose, standard deviation, and the coefficient of variation (CV). A questionnaire that will assess the effectiveness and satisfaction of VR, and will evaluate the relief of diabetes distress following the intervention will be given at baseline, 1 and 2 months after the beginning.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Israel
  • Please Select
    • Ramat Gan, Please Select, Israel, 5265601
      • Noah Gruber

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children and young adults aged 8-15 years with type 1 diabetes with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and insulin pump.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children with medical conditions not able to use virtual reality tool, such as epilepsy or vertigo.
• Children with diagnosed anxiety disorder who are treated with medications.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Virtual reality; The VR glasses will be PICO model neo 2. The visual and vocal data content include both calming, affective imagery and interactive gaming, supplied by "XR-Health Israel Ltd". The vocal-guided affective imagery during the procedure will be identical to the vocal guide in the VR glasses.	Device: Virtual reality glasses; "PICO" model neo 2 VR glasses
Active Comparator: Audio; The vocal-guided affective imagery during the procedure will be identical to the vocal guide in the VR glasses.	Device: Vocal-guided affective imagery; Audio via telephone

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain assessment	Questionnaires to assess pain will be given to the children at baseline, during every CGM/ pump infusion set change (every 3-14 days, depending on the device), and at one and two months after study initiation. Pain scale assessment (FACES scale) will be assessed. Range of scores for the pain scale is from 0-10. A higher number meaning worse pain.	At baseline, during every CGM/ pump infusion set change (every 3-14 days, depending on the device), and at one and two months after study initiation.
Anxiety assessment - state anxiety	Questionnaires to assess anxiety will be given to the children at baseline, during every CGM/ pump infusion set change (every 3-14 days, depending on the device), and at one and two months after study initiation. State anxiety will be assessed using the standardized Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). State anxiety scores range from 6-24, with a higher number meaning higher anxiety.	At baseline, during every CGM/ pump infusion set change (every 3-14 days, depending on the device), and at one and two months after study initiation.
Anxiety assessment - trait anxiety	Questionnaires to assess anxiety will be given to the children at baseline and at two months after study initiation. Trait anxiety will be assessed using the standardized Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Trait anxiety scores range from 20-80, a higher number meaning higher anxiety.	Baseline and 2 months after the intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Regimen adherence	Regimen adherence will be measured by changes in the number of insertion sites on the participants' bodies and by their willingness to change CGM / pump infusion sets themselves. Questionnaires administered at baseline, one month, and two months after the intervention will assess the use of aiding measures.	Baseline, 1 month and 2 months after the intervention
Glycemic control measures - percentage of time in range 70-180 mg/dL	Glycemic control measures that will be measured are comprised of differences between the interventions in the percentage of time in range 70-180 mg/dL.	Baseline, 1 month and 2 months after the intervention
Glycemic control measures - percentage of time below range <70 mg/dL	Glycemic control measures that will be measured are comprised of differences between the interventions in the percentage of time below range <70 mg/dL.	Baseline, 1 month and 2 months after the intervention
Glycemic control measures - percentage of time below range <54 mg/dL	Glycemic control measures that will be measured are comprised of differences between the interventions in the percentage of time below range <54 mg/dL.	Baseline, 1 month and 2 months after the intervention
Glycemic control measures - percentage of time above range I >180 mg/dL	Glycemic control measures that will be measured are comprised of differences between the interventions in the percentage of time above range >180 mg/dL	Baseline, 1 month and 2 months after the intervention
Glycemic control measures - percentage of time above range >250 mg/dL	Glycemic control measures that will be measured are comprised of differences between the interventions in the percentage of time above range >250 mg/dL.	Baseline, 1 month and 2 months after the intervention
Glycemic control measures - estimated HbA1c as measured by glucose management indicator (GMI)	Glycemic control measures that will be measured are comprised of differences between the interventions in estimated HbA1c as measured by glucose management indicator (GMI).	Baseline, 1 month and 2 months after the intervention
Glycemic control measures - mean glucose	Glycemic control measures that will be measured are comprised of differences between the interventions in mean glucose.	Baseline, 1 month and 2 months after the intervention
Glycemic control measures - standard deviation	Glycemic control measures that will be measured are comprised of differences between the interventions in standard deviation.	Baseline, 1 month and 2 months after the intervention
Glycemic control measures - coefficient of variation (CV)	Glycemic control measures that will be measured are comprised of differences between the interventions in coefficient of variation (CV).	Baseline, 1 month and 2 months after the intervention
VR Satisfaction and effectiveness assessment	A questionnaire that will assess the effectiveness and satisfaction of VR, and will evaluate the relief of diabetes distress following the intervention will be given at baseline, 1 and 2 months after the beginning.	Baseline, 1 month and 2 months after the intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Sheba Medical Center
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Noah Gruber, MD, Sheba Medical Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 10, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): December 31, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 23, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 22, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): May 31, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 25, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 23, 2024
• Last Verified: April 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Metabolic Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases; Endocrine System Diseases; Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1
• Other Study ID Numbers: SHEBA-21-816421-NG-CTIL

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Not intended

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No