Virtual Reality in End Stage Kidney Disease

March 31, 2026 updated by: University of Pennsylvania

Social Virtual Reality to Alleviate Loneliness and Symptoms for Individuals Receiving Hemodialysis

The goal of this clinical trial to compare the social virtual reality and individual virtual reality in patients with end stage kidney disease who are hemodialysis. The main aim is to determine if there are differences in symptoms between the groups. Participants will use virtual reality glasses for 30-45 minutes during dialysis sessions for 4 weeks.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

In a single site, 2-arm (Social Virtual Reality group; Individual Virtual Reality Group), parallel, randomized controlled trial we will enroll 60 subjects (n=30 per group) to assess the effects of Social Virtual Reality to Individual Virtual Reality on symptoms in participants with end stage kidney disease who are receiving hemodialysis.

To compare the effects of social virtual reality to individual virtual reality on loneliness To explore the effects of social virtual reality to individual virtual reality on anxiety and depression.

To compare the effects social virtual reality to individual virtual reality on quality of life.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

60

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 Contact

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Pennsylvania
      • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104
        • Recruiting
        • University of Pennsylvania
        • 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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria

  • Diagnosis of end stage kidney disease with hemodialysis 3 times per week for at least 1 month

Exclusion Criteria

  • Acutely ill
  • Active nausea
  • Epilepsy

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: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Social Virtual Reality
Social Virtual Reality will be delivered using virtual reality glasses for 30-45 minutes during dialysis sessions. Groups of 3 participants will watch a movie or program together through the glasses. They will be able to talk and interact during the session.
Behavioral: Social Virtual Reality
Participants interact using virtual reality during dialysis.
Active Comparator: Individual Virtual Reality
Individual Virtual Reality will be delivered using virtual reality glasses for 30-45 minutes during dialysis sessions. Those randomized to this arm will watch a movie or program alone through the glasses.
Behavioral: Individual Virtual Reality
Participants use virtual reality alone during dialysis.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
De Jong Gierveld Scale
Time Frame: Baseline and 4 Weeks
Measures how bad or severe a person's loneliness is. Score range from 11-44; higher scores indicate more loneliness.
Baseline and 4 Weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of Pennsylvania

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Lea Ann Matura, PhD, University of Pennsylvania

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)

March 30, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 28, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 3, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

April 10, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 31, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • SVR/IVR

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.

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