Back to search results

Virtual Reality for Anxiety During Radiation Therapy

This study is looking at how well virtual reality (VR) works to help manage anxiety for patients undergoing radiation therapy. You could be eligible if you are 18 or older and are scheduled for at least 15 radiation treatments for prostate, breast, lung, or head and neck cancer. Participants will either receive standard radiation therapy or use a Meta Quest 2 VR headset during their radiation treatments. The study aims to see how much the VR device is used and how well it functions during treatment. The current status of this study is unclear, and it plans to enroll 54 participants.

Study design
This is a randomized controlled trial, meaning participants are assigned by chance to either use VR or receive standard care. About 54 participants are planned for this study.
What's involved
You would have assessments before the study, before and after your first radiation treatment, every 6th treatment, and at the end of your treatment.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Not specified.

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

NCT07324577

Effectiveness of Virtual Reality (VR) in the Management of Anxiety for Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy

Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalSupportive care
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
~54 participants
Updated 2026-07-07 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:standard of careVirtual Reality InterventionRadiation Therapist Survey

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
VR Use During Treatment
Measured over Periprocedural (each treatment visit)
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Radiation Therapy
Virtual Reality

Explore related trials

Breast CarcinomaLung CarcinomaMalignant Head and Neck NeoplasmMalignant NeoplasmProstate Carcinoma

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
North Carolina1

Study leadership

  • Stephanie Parker, MS · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Who to contact

Sheri Whittington
[email protected]
336-878-6107
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

Do you actually qualify for this trial?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

Check eligibility for this trial ~2 min · HIPAA-protected · delete anytime
Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Participants planned for radiation therapy for 15 or more treatments with non-neutron generating energies (10 MV or less) per study PI for prostate, breast, lung, or head and neck cancer. Neutrons have the potential to damage the VR headset device and are generated for energies above 10 MV.
Age 18 years or older at the time of consent.
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-33 or Karnofsky (KPS) 30-100 at the time of enrollment.
Ability to understand and the willingness to sign an IRB-approved informed consent document directly.
Agreement to participate after reviewing the information sheet
Radiation therapist at AHWFBCCC High Point who has treated at least one participant who enrolled on to the study and used the VR device.

Exclusion

Previous radiation therapy
VR device is determined to impede the radiation dosage during the VR device simulation and treatment planning
Participants with primary brain tumors, brain metastases, and cancer involving the sinuses, orbits, nose, or ears, are excluded from this clinical trial because the VR device may obstruct the area being treated
Participants with uncontrolled inter-current illness including but not limited to psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements per treating radiation oncologist.
Participants with known epilepsy, significant motion sickness, severe uncorrected visual impairment, severe uncorrected hearing impairment, or seizures, per participant report.
Participants with skin defects, infections, or open wounds in the area where the VR device is applied (face or scalp) or in the eyes per treating radiation oncologist.
Participants with pacemakers, internal defibrillators, hearing aid, or other implanted medical device. The Meta Quest device contains magnets and components that emit magnetic/electromagnetic fields which could affect the operation of nearby electronics and medical devices.

What this trial measures

  • VR Use During TreatmentPeriprocedural (each treatment visit)

    A binary variable (Yes/No) will be created for participants at the level of individual treatment visit to signify whether the participants wore the VR device for the duration of their treatment.

  • VR FunctionalityPeriprocedural (each treatment visit)

    VR device functionality (0-2) will be determined at the level of individual treatment visit using the following criteria as determined by the participant and/or treatment staff: 0 = device not functional at any time during the treatment 1. = device functional for part but not all of the treatment duration 2. = device was functional for the duration of the treatment