Virtual Reality for Patient Preparation Before Cardiac Catheterization in Oman

December 21, 2025 updated by: Sultan Qaboos University

Evaluating the Efficacy of Virtual Reality in Patient Preparation for Cardiac Catheterization Procedures in Oman: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Cardiovascular disease is considered one of the most prevalent diseases in recent times, and cardiac catheterization is widely used to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease. However, patients often experience significant anxiety before the procedure due to fear of the unknown, potential complications, and concern about discomfort.Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of virtual reality technology to reduce anxiety and improve patient satisfaction, attitude, and usefulness in individuals undergoing first-time cardiac catheterization procedures in Oman.Method: A mixed-method randomized control trial will be used with approximately 120 patients from different tertiary hospitals in Oman. The experimental group will experience a virtual reality simulation of the catheterization process before providing informed consent, while the control group will receive the standard pre-procedure education. The Arabic version of the DASS-21 scale will be used to assess anxiety level pre- and post-intervention, while patient satisfaction will be measured through qualitative interviews with a subset of 10 participants.Result: ANOVA will be conducted to examine differences in anxiety and satisfaction scores between groups, and Pearson's correlation (r) will assess relationships between anxiety levels and satisfaction scores, while paired t-tests will be applied to compare anxiety levels before and after the intervention within groups. Additionally, multiple regression analysis will be employed to identify predictors of patient satisfaction and anxiety reduction, with a significance level set at p ≤ 0.05 for all statistical tests.Conclusion: The expected outcome of this study is that virtual reality-based education will significantly reduce pre-procedure anxiety and enhance patient satisfaction compared to standard education. Findings from this research may contribute to improving patient-centered care and developing innovative strategies to optimize emotional preparedness before cardiac catheterization procedures.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

120

Phase

  • Not Applicable

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • • Adult patients (aged 18 years and above)

    • Scheduled for first-time elective cardiac catheterization
    • Able to understand Arabic or English
    • Capable of providing informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • • Individuals with cognitive impairment or psychiatric conditions that may interfere with their ability to engage in the VR intervention

    • Patients requiring emergency or urgent catheterization

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: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Virtual Reality Pre-procedure Education
Participants in this group will receive a virtual reality-based educational session prior to their first cardiac catheterization. The VR module will provide a 3D immersive orientation to the catheterization process, including admission, preparation, transfer to the Cath Lab, procedural steps, and post-procedure recovery. The VR experience will last approximately 10-15 minutes and will be delivered once in a quiet setting within the hospital prior to the scheduled procedure. This innovative approach aims to reduce anxiety and enhance understanding of the procedure, ultimately improving patient outcomes. By familiarizing participants with the environment and steps involved, the program seeks to empower them and give them control over their healthcare experience.
Behavioral: Virtual Reality Education
Participants in this group will receive a virtual reality-based educational session prior to their first cardiac catheterization. The VR module provides an immersive 3D orientation to the catheterization process, including admission, preparation, transfer to the Cath Lab, procedural steps, and post-procedure recovery. The VR session lasts approximately 10-15 minutes and is delivered once in a quiet hospital setting before the scheduled procedure. This innovative approach aims to enhance patient understanding and reduce anxiety associated with the catheterization experience. By familiarizing participants with the entire process beforehand, the program seeks to improve overall satisfaction and outcomes.
No Intervention: Standard Pre-procedure Education
Participants in this group will receive the usual standard education provided at the hospital, which includes a verbal explanation by the nurse or physician and a written patient information leaflet describing the procedure, expected preparation, and recovery process. The session will last approximately 10-15 minutes and will be conducted prior to the scheduled procedure. During this time, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and clarify any concerns they may have regarding their treatment. This interactive approach aims to enhance understanding and ensure that everyone feels confident and informed before proceeding.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in pre-procedural anxiety (measured by DASS-21 Anxiety Subscale)
Time Frame: Baseline (before intervention) to immediately prior to cardiac catheterization (within 24 hours).
Anxiety will be assessed using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 (DASS-21). The Anxiety subscale includes 7 items, each scored 0-3. Subscale scores are multiplied by 2, giving a final range of 0-42. Higher scores indicate greater anxiety.
Baseline (before intervention) to immediately prior to cardiac catheterization (within 24 hours).

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Sultan Qaboos University

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 (Estimated)

March 5, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

January 30, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 13, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 21, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

January 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 21, 2025

Last Verified

September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 107/2025

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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