1
|
Robinson CL, D'Souza RS, Yazdi C, Diejomaoh EM, Schatman ME, Emerick T, Orhurhu V. Reviewing the Potential Role of Artificial Intelligence in Delivering Personalized and Interactive Pain Medicine Education for Chronic Pain Patients. J Pain Res 2024; 17:923-929. [PMID: 38464902 PMCID: PMC10924768 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s439452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in patient pain medicine education has the potential to revolutionize pain management. By harnessing the power of AI, patient education becomes more personalized, interactive, and supportive, empowering patients to understand their pain, make informed decisions, and actively participate in their pain management journey. AI tailors the educational content to individual patients' needs, providing personalized recommendations. It introduces interactive elements through chatbots and virtual assistants, enhancing engagement and motivation. AI-powered platforms improve accessibility by providing easy access to educational resources and adapting content to diverse patient populations. Future AI applications in pain management include explaining pain mechanisms, treatment options, predicting outcomes based on individualized patient-specific factors, and supporting monitoring and adherence. Though the literature on AI in pain medicine and its applications are scarce yet growing, we propose avenues where AI may be applied and review the potential applications of AI in pain management education. Additionally, we address ethical considerations, patient empowerment, and accessibility barriers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher L Robinson
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ryan S D'Souza
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Cyrus Yazdi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Efemena M Diejomaoh
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Michael E Schatman
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care, and Pain Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Population Health-Division of Medical Ethics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Trent Emerick
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Chronic Pain Division, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Vwaire Orhurhu
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Susquehanna, Williamsport, PA, USA
- MVM Health, East Stroudsburg, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Teh JJ, Pascoe DJ, Hafeji S, Parchure R, Koczoski A, Rimmer MP, Khan KS, Al Wattar BH. Efficacy of virtual reality for pain relief in medical procedures: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Med 2024; 22:64. [PMID: 38355563 PMCID: PMC10865524 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03266-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Effective pain control is crucial to optimise the success of medical procedures. Immersive virtual reality (VR) technology could offer an effective non-invasive, non-pharmacological option to distract patients and reduce their experience of pain. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Immersive virtual reality (VR) technology in reducing patient's pain perception during various medical procedures by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, and SIGLE until December 2022 for all randomised clinical trials (RCT) evaluating any type of VR in patients undergoing any medical procedure. We conducted a random effect meta-analysis summarising standardised mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). We evaluated heterogeneity using I 2 and explored it using subgroup and meta-regression analyses. RESULTS In total, we included 92 RCTs (n = 7133 participants). There was a significant reduction in pain scores with VR across all medical procedures (n = 83, SMD - 0.78, 95% CI - 1.00 to - 0.57, I 2 = 93%, p = < 0.01). Subgroup analysis showed varied reduction in pain scores across trial designs [crossover (n = 13, SMD - 0.86, 95% CI - 1.23 to - 0.49, I 2 = 72%, p = < 0.01) vs parallel RCTs (n = 70, SMD - 0.77, 95% CI - 1.01 to - 0.52, I 2 = 90%, p = < 0.01)]; participant age groups [paediatric (n = 43, SMD - 0.91, 95% CI - 1.26 to - 0.56, I 2 = 87%, p = < 0.01) vs adults (n = 40, SMD - 0.66, 95% CI - 0.94 to - 0.39, I 2 = 89%, p = < 0.01)] or procedures [venepuncture (n = 32, SMD - 0.99, 95% CI - 1.52 to - 0.46, I 2 = 90%, p = < 0.01) vs childbirth (n = 7, SMD - 0.99, 95% CI - 1.59 to - 0.38, I 2 = 88%, p = < 0.01) vs minimally invasive medical procedures (n = 25, SMD - 0.51, 95% CI - 0.79 to - 0.23, I 2 = 85%, p = < 0.01) vs dressing changes in burn patients (n = 19, SMD - 0.8, 95% CI - 1.16 to - 0.45, I 2 = 87%, p = < 0.01)]. We explored heterogeneity using meta-regression which showed no significant impact of different covariates including crossover trials (p = 0.53), minimally invasive procedures (p = 0.37), and among paediatric participants (p = 0.27). Cumulative meta-analysis showed no change in overall effect estimates with the additional RCTs since 2018. CONCLUSIONS Immersive VR technology offers effective pain control across various medical procedures, albeit statistical heterogeneity. Further research is needed to inform the safe adoption of this technology across different medical disciplines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jhia J Teh
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Safiya Hafeji
- Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, Brixton, London, UK
| | | | - Adam Koczoski
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Michael P Rimmer
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Institute of Regeneration and Repair, Edinburgh BioQuarter, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- . Johns Hospital, Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland, UK.
| | - Khalid S Khan
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Bassel H Al Wattar
- University College London, London, UK
- Beginnings Assisted Conception Unit, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Singleton H, Mahato P, Arden-Close E, Thomas S, Ersser S, Holley D, Yang X, Roberts A. Virtual reality used to distract children and young people with long-term conditions from pain or pruritus: A scoping review using PAGER. J Clin Nurs 2024; 33:469-480. [PMID: 37962251 DOI: 10.1111/jocn.16928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To map out the primary research studies relating to how virtual reality (VR) has been used to distract children and young people with long-term conditions from pain or pruritus. BACKGROUND Pharmacologic treatment of chronic pain and pruritus may have side effects; hence, non-invasive non-pharmacological treatments are being sought. DESIGN The scoping review followed the methodology recommended by the Joanna Briggs Institute, PAGER framework and PRISMA-ScR checklist. The protocol was registered with the Open Science Registration on 14 February 2022 https//doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/K2R93. METHODS Five databases (Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Scopus) were searched. Data were extracted from primary research studies published between 2000 and 2022 involving children and adolescent populations (<21 years) with a long-term condition that had an element of enduring pruritus and/or pain. RESULTS Of 464 abstracts screened, 35 full-text papers were assessed with 5 studies meeting the eligibility criteria. Three main themes emerged from the included studies: (1) Improvements in pain and daily functioning; (2) positive perceptions of VR and (3) accessibility and feasibility of VR. No papers were found on the effect of VR on alleviating pruritus. CONCLUSION VR is feasible, acceptable, and safe for children and adolescents with chronic pain in a range of long-term conditions and offers promise as an adjunctive treatment for improving chronic pain and quality of life. No studies were identified that targeted pruritis or measured pruritis outcomes; thus, the effects of VR for pruritis are unknown. There is a need for rigorously designed, randomised controlled trials to test the clinical and cost-effectiveness of VR interventions for chronic pain and pruritis in children and adolescents. The use of the PAGER (Patterns, Advances, Gaps, Evidence for Practice and Research Recommendations) framework for scoping reviews helped to structure analysis and findings and identify research gaps. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE VR interventions offer promise in improving chronic pain related to long-term conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Amanda Roberts
- Nottingham Support for Carers of Children with Eczema, Nottingham, UK
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Persky S, Colloca L. Medical Extended Reality Trials: Building Robust Comparators, Controls, and Sham. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e45821. [PMID: 37991836 PMCID: PMC10701646 DOI: 10.2196/45821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The explosive pace of development and research in medical extended reality (MXR) is a testament to its promise for health care and medicine. In comparison with this growth, there is a relative sparsity of rigorous clinical trials that establish the efficacy and effectiveness of these interventions. Explicating mechanisms of action across clinical areas and MXR applications is another major area of need. A primary impediment to these goals is a lack of frameworks for trial design, more specifically, the selection of appropriate controls that effectively address unique elements of MXR. This paper delineates a framework for designing controls, sham conditions, and comparators, as well as proposed considerations for MXR trial designs. Special consideration is given to the design of sham conditions. Improved designs would enable more robust findings and the development of generalizable knowledge that could be adopted across MXR interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan Persky
- Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Luana Colloca
- Department of Pain and Translational Symptom Science, School of Nursing, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhang Q, Xu H, Wang Y, Jiang J, Xue Q, Qiu Z. Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for reducing pain susceptibility and increasing social engagement in patients with chronic low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e35269. [PMID: 37960716 PMCID: PMC10637560 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000035269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy in improving social engagement and pain susceptibility in patients with chronic low back pain (≥6 months duration). METHODS From the initial to January 2023, 5 databases were searched for randomized controlled trials, literature screening, quality evaluation, and data extraction were performed by 2 independent researchers throughout, Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software, standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated for different indicators, and the combined experimental and control groups were calculated using random-effects models or fixed-effects models effect sizes, and forest plots were drawn to present the results. RESULTS A total of 16 studies containing 2527 patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain, all of whom had pain lasting longer than 6 months, were included, and after treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was superior to other treatments in improving social participation [SMD = -0.30, 95%CI (-0.60, -0.01), Z = 2.02, P = .04]. There was no significant difference from other treatments in improving patient depression [SMD = -0.07, 95%CI (-0.19, 0.05), Z = 1.11, P = .27] and anxiety [SMD = -0.07, 95%CI (-0.30, 0.16), Z = 0.52, P = .57]. Three papers describe the superiority of CBT over other treatments in improving sleep quality, but the metrics could not be combined due to too little literature. CONCLUSION CBT can improve patients' social participation and pain susceptibility to some extent, but it does not show advantages for managing negative emotions (depression, anxiety). Due to the limited number and low quality of included literature, the above findings still need to be validated by conducting a large sample of high-quality RCTs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- School of Rehabilitation, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shangdong, China
| | - Hongli Xu
- School of Rehabilitation, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shangdong, China
| | - Yuqi Wang
- School of Rehabilitation, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shangdong, China
| | - Jiahui Jiang
- School of Rehabilitation, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shangdong, China
| | - Qing Xue
- School of Rehabilitation, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shangdong, China
| | - Zhengang Qiu
- School of Rehabilitation, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shangdong, China
- Department of Rehabilitation, University Town Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shangdong, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Goldsworthy A, Chawla J, Birt J, Baumann O, Gough S. Use of extended reality in sleep health, medicine, and research: a scoping review. Sleep 2023; 46:zsad201. [PMID: 37498981 PMCID: PMC10636250 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsad201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES This scoping review explores the use of extended reality (virtual, augmented, and mixed reality) within sleep health, sleep medicine, and sleep research. It aims to provide insight into current uses and implementation considerations whilst highlighting directions for future research. METHODS A systematic scoping review was undertaken informed by the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses for scoping reviews and Johanna Briggs Institute. RESULTS The use of virtual reality (VR) as a research tool in the investigation of areas such as dreaming and memory reactivation is growing. Thirty-one articles were identified in total with 20 utilizing VR to improve sleep as a clinical intervention. CONCLUSIONS Research exploring the utility of VR as a clinical intervention in various patient populations and clinical settings is therefore warranted. Researchers and clinicians should ensure that extended reality interventions are developed based on clinical reasoning and informed by evidence of both sleep medicine and the effects of virtual and augmented reality. Where possible future research should utilize up-to-date technology and reporting frameworks to assist in the translation of research into clinical practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Goldsworthy
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Jasneek Chawla
- Child Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Department of Paediatric Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Queensland Children’s Hospital, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - James Birt
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Oliver Baumann
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Suzanne Gough
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Rosser BA, Fisher E, Janjua S, Eccleston C, Keogh E, Duggan G. Psychological therapies delivered remotely for the management of chronic pain (excluding headache) in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023; 8:CD013863. [PMID: 37643992 PMCID: PMC10476013 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd013863.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic pain (pain lasting three months or more) is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Common types (excluding headache) include back pain, fibromyalgia, and neuropathic pain. Access to traditional face-to-face therapies can be restricted by healthcare resources, geography, and cost. Remote technology-based delivery of psychological therapies has the potential to overcome treatment barriers. However, their therapeutic effectiveness compared to traditional delivery methods requires further investigation. OBJECTIVES To determine the benefits and harms of remotely-delivered psychological therapies compared to active control, waiting list, or treatment as usual for the management of chronic pain in adults. SEARCH METHODS We searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO to 29 June 2022. We also searched clinical trials registers and reference lists. We conducted a citation search of included trials to identify any further eligible trials. SELECTION CRITERIA We included RCTs in adults (≥ 18 years old) with chronic pain. Interventions included psychological therapies with recognisable psychotherapeutic content or based on psychological theory. Trials had to have delivered therapy remote from the therapist (e.g. Internet, smartphone application) and involve no more than 30% contact time with a clinician. Comparators included treatment as usual (including waiting-list controls) and active controls (e.g. education). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We used standard Cochrane methodological procedures. MAIN RESULTS We included 32 trials (4924 participants) in the analyses. Twenty-five studies delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to participants, and seven delivered acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Participants had back pain, musculoskeletal pain, opioid-treated chronic pain, mixed chronic pain, hip or knee osteoarthritis, spinal cord injury, fibromyalgia, provoked vestibulodynia, or rheumatoid arthritis. We assessed 25 studies as having an unclear or high risk of bias for selective reporting. However, across studies overall, risk of bias was generally low. We downgraded evidence certainty for primary outcomes for inconsistency, imprecision, and study limitations. Certainty of evidence ranged from moderate to very low. Adverse events were inadequately reported or recorded across studies. We report results only for studies in CBT here. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) versus treatment as usual (TAU) Pain intensity Immediately after treatment, CBT likely demonstrates a small beneficial effect compared to TAU (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.39 to -0.16; 20 studies, 3206 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). Participants receiving CBT are probably more likely to achieve a 30% improvement in pain intensity compared to TAU (23% versus 11%; risk ratio (RR) 2.15, 95% CI 1.62 to 2.85; 5 studies, 1347 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). They may also be more likely to achieve a 50% improvement in pain intensity (6% versus 2%; RR 2.31, 95% CI 1.14 to 4.66; 4 studies, 1229 participants), but the evidence is of low certainty. At follow-up, there is likely little to no difference in pain intensity between CBT and TAU (SMD -0.04, 95% CI -0.17 to 0.09; 8 studies, 959 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). The evidence comparing CBT to TAU on achieving a 30% improvement in pain is very uncertain (40% versus 24%; RR 1.70, 95% CI 0.82 to 3.53; 1 study, 69 participants). No evidence was available regarding a 50% improvement in pain. Functional disability Immediately after treatment, CBT may demonstrate a small beneficial improvement compared to TAU (SMD -0.38, 95% CI -0.53 to -0.22; 14 studies, 2672 participants; low-certainty evidence). At follow-up, there is likely little to no difference between treatments (SMD -0.05, 95% CI -0.23 to 0.14; 3 studies, 461 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). Quality of life Immediately after treatment, CBT may not have resulted in a beneficial effect on quality of life compared to TAU, but the evidence is very uncertain (SMD -0.16, 95% CI -0.43 to 0.11; 7 studies, 1423 participants). There is likely little to no difference between CBT and TAU on quality of life at follow-up (SMD -0.16, 95% CI -0.37 to 0.05; 3 studies, 352 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). Adverse events Immediately after treatment, evidence about the number of people experiencing adverse events is very uncertain (34% in TAU versus 6% in CBT; RR 6.00, 95% CI 2.2 to 16.40; 1 study, 140 participants). No evidence was available at follow-up. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) versus active control Pain intensity Immediately after treatment, CBT likely demonstrates a small beneficial effect compared to active control (SMD -0.28, 95% CI -0.52 to -0.04; 3 studies, 261 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). The evidence at follow-up is very uncertain (mean difference (MD) 0.50, 95% CI -0.30 to 1.30; 1 study, 127 participants). No evidence was available for a 30% or 50% pain intensity improvement. Functional disability Immediately after treatment, there may be little to no difference between CBT and active control on functional disability (SMD -0.26, 95% CI -0.55 to 0.02; 2 studies, 189 participants; low-certainty evidence). The evidence at follow-up is very uncertain (MD 3.40, 95% CI -1.15 to 7.95; 1 study, 127 participants). Quality of life Immediately after treatment, there is likely little to no difference in CBT and active control (SMD -0.22, 95% CI -1.11 to 0.66; 3 studies, 261 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). The evidence at follow-up is very uncertain (MD 0.00, 95% CI -0.06 to 0.06; 1 study, 127 participants). Adverse events Immediately after treatment, the evidence comparing CBT to active control is very uncertain (2% versus 0%; RR 3.23, 95% CI 0.13 to 77.84; 1 study, 135 participants). No evidence was available at follow-up. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Currently, evidence about remotely-delivered psychological therapies is largely limited to Internet-based delivery of CBT. We found evidence that remotely-delivered CBT has small benefits for pain intensity (moderate certainty) and functional disability (moderate to low certainty) in adults experiencing chronic pain. Benefits were not maintained at follow-up. Our appraisal of quality of life and adverse events outcomes post-treatment were limited by study numbers, evidence certainty, or both. We found limited research (mostly low to very low certainty) exploring other psychological therapies (i.e. ACT). More high-quality studies are needed to assess the broad translatability of psychological therapies to remote delivery, the different delivery technologies, treatment longevity, comparison with active control, and adverse events.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Emma Fisher
- Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group, Pain Research Unit, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Sadia Janjua
- Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group, Pain Research Unit, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Edmund Keogh
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Geoffrey Duggan
- Bath Centre for Pain Services, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Bath, UK
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Hernandez R, Wilund K, Solai K, Tamayo D, Fast D, Venkatesan P, Lash JP, Lora CM, Martinez L, Martin Alemañy G, Martinez A, Kwon S, Romero D, Browning MHEM, Moskowitz JT. Positive Psychological Intervention Delivered Using Virtual Reality in Patients on Hemodialysis With Comorbid Depression: Protocol and Design for the Joviality Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc 2023; 12:e45100. [PMID: 37327026 DOI: 10.2196/45100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is highly prevalent in individuals on hemodialysis, but it is infrequently identified and remains undertreated. In this paper, we present details of the methodology of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed at testing the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a 5-week positive psychological intervention in individuals on hemodialysis with comorbid depression delivered using immersive virtual reality (VR) technology. OBJECTIVE We aim to describe the protocol and design of the Joviality trial whose main objectives are 2-fold: determine the feasibility of the Joviality VR software through metrics capturing rates of recruitment, refusal, retention, noncompliance, and adherence, as well as end-user feedback; and assess preliminary efficacy for outcomes measures of depressive symptoms, psychological well-being and distress, quality of life, treatment adherence, clinical biomarkers, and all-cause hospitalizations. METHODS This 2-arm RCT is scheduled to enroll 84 individuals on hemodialysis with comorbid depression from multiple outpatient centers in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Enrollees will be randomized to the following groups: VR-based Joviality positive psychological intervention or sham VR (2D wildlife footage and nature-based settings with inert music presented using a head-mounted display). To be eligible, individuals must be on hemodialysis for at least 3 months, have Beck Depression Inventory-II scores of ≥11 (ie, indicative of mild-to-severe depressive symptoms), be aged ≥21 years, and be fluent in English or Spanish. The Joviality VR software was built using agile design principles and incorporates fully immersive content, digital avatars, and multiplex features of interactability. Targeted skills of the intervention include noticing positive events, positive reappraisal, gratitude, acts of kindness, and mindful or nonjudgmental awareness. The primary outcomes include metrics of feasibility and acceptability, along with preliminary efficacy focused on decreasing symptoms of depression. The secondary and tertiary outcomes include quality of life, treatment adherence, clinical biomarkers, and all-cause hospitalization rates. There are 4 assessment time points: baseline, immediately after the intervention, 3 months after the intervention, and 6 months after the intervention. We hypothesize that depressive symptoms and hemodialysis-related markers of disease will substantially improve in participants randomized to the VR-based Joviality positive psychology treatment arm compared with those in the attention control condition. RESULTS This RCT is funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and is scheduled to commence participant recruitment in June 2023. CONCLUSIONS This trial will be the first to test custom-built VR software to deliver a positive psychological intervention, chairside, in individuals on hemodialysis to reduce symptoms of depression. Within the context of an RCT using an active control arm, if proven effective, VR technology may become a potent tool to deliver mental health programming in clinical populations during their outpatient treatment sessions. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05642364; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05642364. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/45100.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosalba Hernandez
- Department of Population Health Nursing Science, College of Nursing, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Ken Wilund
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Killivalavan Solai
- Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - David Tamayo
- Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Drew Fast
- Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Prasakthi Venkatesan
- Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - James P Lash
- Division of Nephrology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Claudia M Lora
- Division of Nephrology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Lizet Martinez
- Department of Population Health Nursing Science, College of Nursing, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Geovana Martin Alemañy
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Angela Martinez
- Department of Population Health Nursing Science, College of Nursing, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Soonhyung Kwon
- School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Dana Romero
- Department of Population Health Nursing Science, College of Nursing, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Matthew H E M Browning
- Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States
| | - Judith T Moskowitz
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Rohaj A, Bulaj G. Digital Therapeutics (DTx) Expand Multimodal Treatment Options for Chronic Low Back Pain: The Nexus of Precision Medicine, Patient Education, and Public Health. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11101469. [PMID: 37239755 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11101469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Digital therapeutics (DTx, software as a medical device) provide personalized treatments for chronic diseases and expand precision medicine beyond pharmacogenomics-based pharmacotherapies. In this perspective article, we describe how DTx for chronic low back pain (CLBP) can be integrated with pharmaceutical drugs (e.g., NSAIDs, opioids), physical therapy (PT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and patient empowerment. An example of an FDA-authorized DTx for CLBP is RelieVRx, a prescription virtual reality (VR) app that reduces pain severity as an adjunct treatment for moderate to severe low back pain. RelieVRx is an immersive VR system that delivers at-home pain management modalities, including relaxation, self-awareness, pain distraction, guided breathing, and patient education. The mechanism of action of DTx is aligned with recommendations from the American College of Physicians to use non-pharmacological modalities as the first-line therapy for CLBP. Herein, we discuss how DTx can provide multimodal therapy options integrating conventional treatments with exposome-responsive, just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAI). Given the flexibility of software-based therapies to accommodate diverse digital content, we also suggest that music-induced analgesia can increase the clinical effectiveness of digital interventions for chronic pain. DTx offers opportunities to simultaneously address the chronic pain crisis and opioid epidemic while supporting patients and healthcare providers to improve therapy outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aarushi Rohaj
- The Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, L.S. Skaggs College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Grzegorz Bulaj
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, L.S. Skaggs College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Matamala-Gomez M, Donegan T, Świdrak J. VR for Pain Relief. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023; 65:309-336. [PMID: 36592274 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The present chapter explores how immersive virtual reality (VR) systems can be used for pain research and treatment. Pain is a universal, yet entirely subjective and multifaceted unpleasant experience. One of the earliest VR studies on pain highlighted the role of attention in pain modulation. However, the role of body representation in pain modulation has also been described as a crucial factor. Through virtual reality systems, it is possible to modulate both attention to pain and body representation. In this chapter, first we define how immersive VR can be used to create the illusion of being present in immersive VR environments and argue why VR can be an effective tool for distracting patients from acute pain. However, distraction seems to be less useful in chronic pain treatment. Chronic pain can be highly disabling and can significantly impact not only the sufferer's quality of life, but also their perceptions of the bodily self. Close neural connections between the body matrix and pain open a chance for influencing pain through bodily illusions. This chapter explores approaches to inducing body ownership illusions in VR and discusses how they have been applied in pain research. The present chapter also covers a set of practical indications and methodological caveats of immersive VR and solutions for overcoming them. Finally, we outline several promising future research directions and highlight several yet unexplored areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Matamala-Gomez
- Department of Cognition, Development and Educational Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
- Cognition and Brain Plasticity Group, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Tony Donegan
- Cortical Networks and Virtual Environments in Neuroscience Lab, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- Experimental Virtual Environments for Neuroscience and Technology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Justyna Świdrak
- Cortical Networks and Virtual Environments in Neuroscience Lab, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- Experimental Virtual Environments for Neuroscience and Technology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Worlikar H, Coleman S, Kelly J, O’Connor S, Murray A, McVeigh T, Doran J, McCabe I, O'Keeffe D. Mixed reality platforms in telehealth delivery: Scoping Review (Preprint). JMIR Biomedical Engineering 2022. [DOI: 10.2196/42709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
|
12
|
Eccleston C, Fisher E, Liikkanen S, Sarapohja T, Stenfors C, Jääskeläinen SK, Rice AS, Mattila L, Blom T, Bratty JR. A prospective, double-blind, pilot, randomized, controlled trial of an "embodied" virtual reality intervention for adults with low back pain. Pain 2022; 163:1700-1715. [PMID: 35324507 PMCID: PMC9393796 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Adults with chronic low back pain, disability, moderate-to-severe pain, and high fear of movement and reinjury were recruited into a trial of a novel, automated, digital therapeutics, virtual reality, psychological intervention for pain (DTxP). We conducted a 3-arm, prospective, double-blind, pilot, randomized, controlled trial comparing DTxP with a sham placebo comparator and an open-label standard care. Participants were enrolled for 6 to 8 weeks, after which, the standard care control arm were rerandomized to receive either the DTxP or sham placebo. Forty-two participants completed assessments at baseline, immediately posttreatment (6-8 weeks), 9-week, and 5-month follow-up. We found that participants in the DTxP group reported greater reductions in fear of movement and better global impression of change when compared with sham placebo and standard care post treatment. No other group differences were noted at posttreatment or follow-up. When compared with baseline, participants in the DTxP group reported lower disability at 5-month follow-up, lower pain interference and fear of movement post treatment and follow-up, and lower pain intensity at posttreatment. The sham placebo group also reported lower disability and fear of movement at 5-month follow-up compared with baseline. Standard care did not report any significant changes. There were a number of adverse events, with one participant reporting a serious adverse event in the sham placebo, which was not related to treatment. No substantial changes in medications were noted, and participants in the DTxP group reported positive gaming experiences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Eccleston
- Department for Health, Centre for Pain Research, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
- Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Emma Fisher
- Department for Health, Centre for Pain Research, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
- Cochrane Pain, Palliative, and Supportive Care Review Groups, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Satu K. Jääskeläinen
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Andrew S.C. Rice
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Pain Research, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Taru Blom
- Orion Corporation Orion Pharma, R&D, Espoo, Finland
| | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Pallavicini F, Orena E, di Santo S, Greci L, Caragnano C, Ranieri P, Vuolato C, Pepe A, Veronese G, Stefanini S, Achille F, Dakanalis A, Bernardelli L, Sforza F, Rossini A, Caltagirone C, Fascendini S, Clerici M, Riva G, Mantovani F. A virtual reality home-based training for the management of stress and anxiety among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2022; 23:451. [PMID: 35655231 PMCID: PMC9161181 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-022-06337-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Healthcare workers represent one of the most affected categories by the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. Excessive stress and anxiety are critical factors that could compromise work performance. Besides, high levels of stress and anxiety may have long-term physical and psychological consequences. Recent studies investigated virtual reality to reduce stress and anxiety among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the proposed virtual reality interventions have important limitations related to their location (i.e., research lab and hospitals) and content (i.e., virtual experiences only for relaxation). Within this context, this randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the efficacy and acceptability of a brief home-based virtual reality training for managing stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 crisis in a sample of Italian healthcare workers. Methods The study is a randomized controlled trial. It includes two groups of 30 individuals recruited from healthcare workers: (1) the experimental group and (2) the control group. Participants in the experimental group will receive a training consisting of three home sessions performed in a week. In each session, participants will try through an immersive virtual reality standalone system (i.e., Oculus Quest 2) a virtual psychoeducation experience on stress and anxiety (i.e., MIND-VR). Subsequently, they will try the virtual relaxation content (i.e., The Secret Garden). The control group will receive no training and will be reassessed one week and one month after the initial evaluation. Discussion If the proposed brief home-based virtual reality training will result helpful and easy to use, it could become an empirically assessed viable option for protecting healthcare workers’ mental health both during the COVID-19 pandemic and once it will be over. Furthermore, the intervention might be easily adapted for other categories of people who need support in managing stress and anxiety. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04611399.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federica Pallavicini
- Department of Human Sciences for Education, University of Milano Bicocca, Riccardo Massa", Milan, Italy.
| | - Eleonora Orena
- Foundation IRCCS, Neurological Institute Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Simona di Santo
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Università Degli Studi Di Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Greci
- Institute of Intelligent Industrial Technologies and Systems for Advanced Manufacturing (STIIMA), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Lecco, Italy
| | - Chiara Caragnano
- University of Milano Bicocca, Department of Psychology, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Ranieri
- University of Milano-Bicocca, Specialization School in Psychology, Lecco, Italy
| | - Costanza Vuolato
- Foundation IRCCS, Neurological Institute Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Pepe
- Department of Human Sciences for Education, University of Milano Bicocca, Riccardo Massa", Milan, Italy
| | - Guido Veronese
- Department of Human Sciences for Education, University of Milano Bicocca, Riccardo Massa", Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Antonios Dakanalis
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Sara Fascendini
- Fondazione Europea Ricerca Biomedica (FERB), Gazzaniga, Italy
| | - Massimo Clerici
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Riva
- Humane Technology Lab, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy.,Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizia Mantovani
- Department of Human Sciences for Education, University of Milano Bicocca, Riccardo Massa", Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|