Integrating Immersive Virtual Reality Meditation into Palliative Oncology: A Randomized Trial Protocol for Evaluating Pain Relief and Quality of Life

Abstract

Highlights: What are the main findings? Immersive virtual reality can be used as a meditation tool for cancer patients in palliative care. The randomized clinical trial protocol evaluates its effectiveness in pain management and quality of life. What are the implications of the main findings? Virtual reality meditation may provide a complementary strategy to improve well-being in integrative oncology. The study could generate scientific evidence to support better healthcare decisions in cancer pain management. Background/Objectives: Cancer is a disabling, challenging, and growing global disease. Although early diagnosis and adequate treatment of cancer are developing rapidly, a large part of the population remains without access to specialized services and routinely progresses to uncontrolled pain, poorer quality of life, and suffering. Complementary therapies for pain management and the well-being of patients under palliative care are fundamental tools of integrative oncological medicine. This first version of the protocol was created in August 2023 to structure the aim of this study to investigate the effectiveness of the experimental protocol which uses immersive virtual reality as a meditation tool in patients followed at the Pain Therapy and Palliative Care Service of the CECON Foundation. Methods: This randomized clinical trial, conducted at the Pain Therapy and Palliative Care Service (STDCP) of the FCECON, explores the use of immersive virtual reality to promote regular meditation practice among cancer patients as an effective means of managing pain and improving quality of life. Discussion: The present study has the potential to evaluate the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality as a meditation tool for patients undergoing palliative care, in addition to contributing scientific evidence that supports better decisions in healthcare for the management of cancer pain. Trial registration: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC) and ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT06328751/Universal Trial Number (UTN) U1111-1304-3752.