CompletedNot Applicable

Virtual Reality as a Tool to Lower Blood Pressure and Anxiety in Clinic Settings

United States79 participantsStarted 2025-06-02

Plain-language summary

This clinical trial aims to evaluate whether a calming virtual reality (VR) experience can reduce office blood pressure (OBP) and anxiety in adults undergoing ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) at Mayo Clinic in Florida. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does a 5-minute calming VR session reduce office blood pressure in patients with suspected white coat hypertension or white coat effect? 2. Does VR exposure reduce self-reported anxiety levels in the clinical setting? 3. Does VR reduce the difference between home (ABPM) and clinic blood pressure readings? Participants will: 1. Complete two short electronic surveys (before and after VR exposure) on a clinic-provided device. 2. Undergo a 5-minute virtual reality (VR) relaxation session. 3. Have their blood pressure measured before and after the VR session. Participation will occur during the participant's scheduled ABPM device return visit and will add approximately 30 minutes to the visit. This is a single-arm, pre-post interventional study where each participant serves as their own control.

Who can participate

Age range

18 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: * Age 18 years or older. * Undergoing ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) at Mayo Clinic Florida for any clinical indication. * Able and willing to provide informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * History of epilepsy or seizure disorders. * Significant cognitive impairment (e.g., dementia, Alzheimer's disease). * Significant visual impairment that prevents visualization of the VR environment. * History of vestibular disorders (e.g., Meniere's disease, chronic vertigo). * Unstable cardiovascular conditions (e.g., myocardial infarction within the past year). * Chronic hypoxemic respiratory failure requiring supplemental oxygen. * Cervical spine instability or injuries that could impair safe VR use. * Current pregnancy

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

Change in Office Blood Pressure (OBP) Before and After VR Exposure

Timeframe: Baseline (pre-VR exposure) and immediately post-intervention (post-VR exposure) during the study visit.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06960057

SponsorMayo Clinic

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-08-15

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More White Coat Hypertension trials