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Virtual Reality for Symptom Management in Stem Cell Transplant Patients

This study is looking at whether using virtual reality (VR) can help manage symptoms for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), also known as a stem cell transplant. Patients often experience symptoms like tiredness, anxiety, pain, and depression during this time. VR offers a way to escape reality and has been shown to help with these types of symptoms. The study will compare patients who use VR applications for relaxation with those who receive standard care. Researchers want to see if VR improves symptoms over the length of your hospital stay, up to 6 months. You may be able to join if you are an adult (18 or older) admitted for a planned HSCT, are alert, and are expected to be in the hospital for at least one week.

Study design
This is an interventional study that will enroll 21 participants. You would be randomly assigned to either use a VR device or receive standard care.
What's involved
If you are in the VR group, you would use a VR device for up to 15 minutes daily while in the hospital. Both groups will have surveys and interviews.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
After the study intervention, patients are followed up after discharge, with symptom scores measured up to 6 months.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06798701

Virtual Reality for Symptom Management in Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Active, Not Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalSupportive care
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
~21 participants
Updated 2026-07-16 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Best PracticeInterviewSurvey AdministrationVirtual Reality

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Difference in the trajectories of the mean Edmonston Symptom Assessment System Revised (ESAS-r) composite scores
Measured over Length of hospital stay up to 6 months

Conditions

Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm
Malignant Solid Neoplasm

Explore related trials

Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System NeoplasmMalignant Solid Neoplasm

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
New York1

Study leadership

  • Heather Huizinga · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Who to contact

This trial hasn't published a contact. View it on ClinicalTrials.gov

Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Adult patients (≥ 18 years old) admitted to Roswell Park on 5 North for planned hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)
Must be alert and oriented (Glascow Coma Scale of 15, Nursing Universal Flowsheet) and able to consent to participate in the study
Expected to be admitted to Roswell Park inpatient unit for ≥ 1 week
Participant must understand the investigational nature of this study and sign an Independent Ethics Committee/Institutional Review Board approved written informed consent form prior to receiving any study related procedure

Exclusion

Participants with known brain metastases should be excluded from this clinical trial because of their poor prognosis and because they often develop progressive neurologic dysfunction that would confound the evaluation of neurologic and other adverse events
Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
Pregnant patients
Incarcerated patients
Patients who are unwilling or unable to follow protocol requirements
Individuals that are prone to motion sickness, nausea, dizziness, history of seizure, potential for seizure, history of delirium, at risk for confusion, etc
Participants with audio and/or visual impairments that would preclude them from using a VR device

What this trial measures

  • Difference in the trajectories of the mean Edmonston Symptom Assessment System Revised (ESAS-r) composite scoresLength of hospital stay up to 6 months

    Firstly, the pattern of ESAS-r scores over time will be graphically examined. To account for the within-individual correlations, a generalized linear mixed model with appropriate link function will be applied. The time is measured by the number of days after treatment start and will be considered as a continuous variable. The effect of interest is the time by group interaction. Significant interaction implies different trajectories of ESAS-r composite scores over time. If the nonlinear patterns were observed, appropriate transformation or analyses focusing on the linear region will be considered. All tests will be two sided at a significant level of 0.05. Scores of individual items will be compared using the same approach. False discovery rate will be controlled using Benjamini-Hochberg procedure. As complementary analyses, models with only surveys before or after the virtual reality will also be examined.