Virtual Reality Intervention for Patients Undergoing BMT

Last updated: May 13, 2026
Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital
Overall Status: Active - Not Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Post-traumatic Stress Disorders

Anxiety Disorders

Depression

Treatment

BMT-VR

Clinical Study ID

NCT05629676
22-486
  • Ages > 18
  • All Genders

Study Summary

The goal of this research study is to test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of using a virtual reality (VR) psychosocial intervention for improving quality of life and psychological distress in patients hospitalized for bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Participants will be randomly assigned into one of the study groups: the virtual reality psychosocial intervention (BMT-VR) + usual care versus usual care alone.

The BMT-VR intervention has several components:

  1. Psychoeducation to enhance preparedness, manage expectations, and mobilize social supports.

  2. Psychosocial skill building to promote effective coping and facilitate acceptance while living with uncertainty of treatment outcomes.

  3. Self-care to promote effective coping and enhance patient's sense of control as they transition from inpatient to outpatient care

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adult patients (age > 18 years) with hematologic malignancy admitted for autologousor allogeneic BMT

  • Ability to comprehend, read, and respond to questions in English as BMT-VR is onlyavailable in English

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients undergoing BMT for benign hematologic conditions

  • Patients undergoing outpatient BMT

  • Patients with acute or unstable psychiatric or cognitive conditions which thetreating clinicians believes prohibits informed consent or compliance with studyprocedures

Study Design

Total Participants: 80
Treatment Group(s): 1
Primary Treatment: BMT-VR
Phase:
Study Start date:
December 20, 2022
Estimated Completion Date:
December 30, 2026

Study Description

Patients undergoing BMT endure substantial physical and psychological symptoms during a prolonged hospitalization with significant risk of complications, which negatively impact their overall quality of life. There is a critical need to develop innovative supportive care interventions to improve the quality of life and care of patients undergoing BMT.

This is a single-center, randomized, controlled research study to test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of BMT-VR for improving quality of life and reducing psychological stress for patients undergoing BMT. BMT-VR is a self-administered virtual reality psychosocial intervention to address the supportive care needs of patients undergoing BMT.

Participants will be recruited and randomized in 1:1 fashion to BMT-VR + usual care versus usual care alone, stratified by transplant type (autologous vs. allogenic BMT)

Participants randomly assigned to BMT-VR group will receive usual transplant care by their BMT team and will also be given a virtual reality headset to engage with BMT-VR during their BMT hospitalization. Participants will complete six sections focused on educating them about BMT and helping them manage the physical and emotional symptoms with the BMT process.

Participants randomly assigned to the usual care group will receive usual transplant care by their BMT team and will not be given access to the BMT-VR intervention.

In both groups, participants are asked to complete questionnaires (in-person, over the computer or telephone, or by mail) at baseline, 2, 4, 12, and 24 weeks after enrolling in the study.

It is expected about 80 participants will take part in this study.

Rocket VR Health, Inc. is supporting this research study by providing funding.

Connect with a study center

  • Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center

    Boston, Massachusetts 02114
    United States

    Site Not Available

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