Experiential and Relaxation Virtual Reality as a Tool for Easing Anxiety in Seriously Ill Children

Last updated: June 15, 2025
Sponsor: National Institute of Mental Health, Czech Republic
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

N/A

Treatment

Relaxation virtual reality (VR)

Experiential virtual reality (VR)

Clinical Study ID

NCT06915883
EK-670/24
187724
  • Ages 7-17
  • All Genders

Study Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the use of experiential and relaxation virtual reality (VR) interventions in easing anxiety and other distress symptoms in children with life-limiting and/or life-threatening conditions (LLC/LTC). The main questions it aims to answer are:

  1. Does experiential and relaxation VR help to decrease anxiety in severely ill children?

  2. What effect does it have on pain and fear?

  3. Is there a difference between experiential and relaxation VR in the observed outcome measures?

  4. How is the newly developed relaxation VR app BreezeTerraVR perceived by children with LLC/LTC?

  5. How do caregivers of the patients perceive VR as an intervention tool for psychological distress? Researchers will compare baseline levels of outcome measures (e.g. anxiety) to post-intervention levels to determine if there is an effect.

Participants will:

  • Experience both types of VR interventions-experiential and relaxation VR-for 7 to 15 minutes in two sessions (the number of days between sessions will depend on each child's medical plan), the order of interventions is randomized.

  • Fill out a set of short questionnaires before and after each intervention (approximately 5 minutes per phase).

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • age 7-17.9 years

  • sufficient level of contact with the environment and ability to cooperate

  • children and parents fluent in Czech

  • diagnosis of a life-threatening or life-limiting disease according to theinternationally accepted list of palliatively relevant diagnoses

  • pediatric patients treated at the University Hospital Motol

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • age below 7 or above 17.9 years

  • unstable health status

  • inability to speak Czech

  • absence of parental consent for participation in the study

Study Design

Total Participants: 50
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: Relaxation virtual reality (VR)
Phase:
Study Start date:
December 20, 2024
Estimated Completion Date:
August 31, 2025

Connect with a study center

  • University Hospital Motol

    Prague, 15006
    Czech Republic

    Active - Recruiting

  • University Hospital Motol

    Prague, Czech republic 15006
    Czechia

    Active - Recruiting

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