Recruiting

The Pain Reduction Using Immersive Virtual Reality During Wound Care Evaluation Study at Maimonides (PRISM) - Pilot Study

ClinicalTrials.gov IDNCT07447830

PhaseNA

Enrollment25

SponsorMcGill University

AgeNo minimum reported

SexALL

I'm interested View official listing

Conditions studied

Wound Care, Pain, Neuropsychiatric Symptoms

About this study

This study will test whether immersive virtual reality (iVR) can reduce pain and discomfort during wound care for residents living in long-term care (LTC). Pressure ulcers are common and painful among older adults, and dressing changes often cause additional distress. Up to 20 residents at the Donald Berman Maimonides Geriatric Centre will use virtual reality headsets during routine wound care. The headsets display calm, low-stimulus scenes (e.g., puppies in a meadow) designed to distract and comfort participants. Each participant will take part for six weeks in three phases: * Two weeks of usual wound care (baseline) * Two weeks using virtual reality during wound care (intervention) * Two weeks of usual care again (washout) Pain will be assessed using validated tools, and the research team will also observe agitation, mood, and other behavioral indicators. Nursing staff will provide feedback on feasibility and acceptability of iVR use in LTC settings.

Interventions

Device: Rendever Immersive Virtual Reality Platform — IVR headsets will provide calming, low-intensity scenes-like watching puppies in a meadow-to provide distraction and help reduce pain during wound care.

Primary outcomes

Pain Assessment Checklist for Seniors with Limited Ability to Communicate (PACSLAC-II) (6 weeks)
Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD) (6 weeks)

Eligibility information

Inclusion Criteria: * Resident of LTC for ≥2 weeks * Receiving regular wound care for pressure ulcers * Able to tolerate iVR headset use * (If cognitively apt) able to understand English or French Exclusion Criteria: * Blindness, severe cataracts, or glaucoma * Allergies to synthetic plastics or headset materials * Head or ear wounds preventing headset placement * Peripheral neuropathy * Dangerous or aggressive behaviors in the past 30 days

Study locations

Donald Berman Maimonides Maimonides Geriatric Centre, Montreal, Quebec H4W 1W3 Canada
Donald Berman Maimonides Maimonides Geriatric Centre, Montreal, Quebec H4W 1W3 Canada

Before you participate: Varda Clinical is an independent discovery tool, not the study sponsor or a medical provider. Eligibility can only be determined by the official study team. Discuss potential risks and benefits with a qualified healthcare professional.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov. Record last refreshed by Varda Clinical: 2026-09-27.