RecruitingNot Applicable

Virtual Reality As Adjunct Therapy for Vaso-Occlusive Pain

United States36 participantsStarted 2024-09-12

Plain-language summary

The goal of this randomized control clinical trial is to learn if virtual reality can be used to treat sickle cell pain in children. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does virtual reality reduce pain severity during a child's hospital stay for a vaso-occlusive pain crisis? Does virtual reality decrease the daily use of opiates? Researchers will compare standard therapy to the use of standard therapy plus a daily virtual reality experience to see if virtual reality works to treat sickle cell pain. All patients will: \- Be asked to fill out a pain assessment survey three times daily for up to 3 days If randomized to intervention arm, patients will: * Participate in an immersive virtual reality experience once daily for up to 3 days * Fill out a survey twice daily to monitor for side effects from virtual reality experience * Fill out a satisfaction survey once during the study period

Who can participate

Age range

8 Years – 21 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. Patient ≥ 8 up to 21 years of age
. Presenting to CHNOLA ER or outside facility with chief complaint of vaso-occlusive pain crisis, requiring inpatient admission for further pain management
. No known cognitive or neurological deficits
. Parental/guardian permission (informed consent) and if appropriate, child assent.

Exclusion criteria

. Patients aged 7-years-old and younger.
. Patents upon admission found to have sequela of their sickle cell disease that would require medical therapy greater than the standard of care for a vaso-occlusive pain event. This includes acute chest syndrome, splenic sequestration, post-operative pain, and/or cerebrovascular accident

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Pain severity

Timeframe: From enrollment to the end of hospital admission day 3.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06773715

SponsorLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-12-19

Contact for this trial

Molly E Sonenklar, MD

504-896-9740 msonen@lsuhsc.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Sickle Cell Disease trials