CClinicalTrials.gg
SuspendedNCT03568292Updated May 13, 2026

Virtual Reality in Reducing Pain and Anxiety in Cancer Participants Undergoing Painful Procedures

An interventional study of Best Practice and Laboratory Biomarker Analysis in Malignant Neoplasm, sponsored by University of Southern California. Suspended at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 70 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-13.

Sponsored by University of Southern California · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care

Why this study was suspended
Awaiting new cohort to open
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
60
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 70 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This trial studies how well virtual reality (VR) works in reducing pain and anxiety in cancer participants undergoing bone marrow biopsy or lumbar puncture. Virtual reality may impact pain and anxiety during and after the procedure.

Read the detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine the feasibility of VR in patients undergoing procedural intervention.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To estimate differences between the two arms in terms of pain and anxiety. II. To document any adverse events that could possibly be attributed to the VR intervention.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:

I. Explore the use of biomarkers as a tool to reflect the impact of intervention.

OUTLINE: Participants are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.

ARM I: Participants undergo VR intervention peri-procedure (bone marrow biopsy or lumbar puncture) lasting until completion of the procedure.

ARM II: Participants receive standard of care during procedure (bone marrow biopsy or lumbar puncture).

02

Conditions studied

  • Malignant Neoplasm

Browse trials for

03

In context

Neoplasms

9,365 studies on the registry are indexed under Neoplasms; 2,489 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 60 is above the median of 50 across 7,253 interventional studies indexed under Neoplasms.

Browse Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Southern California is the lead sponsor of 773 studies on the registry; 135 are open to participants now.

Of its 68 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 32 (47%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 70 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Patient has been diagnosed with any cancer
  • Patient is currently hospitalized and receiving treatment for a primary or secondary cancer at University of Southern California (USC) Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital
  • Patient is undergoing a bone marrow biopsy or lumbar puncture

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Inability to sign informed assent and/or consent
  • Patient with an underlying diagnosis of epilepsy, dementia, Parkinson?s disease, primary central nervous system malignancy, brain metastasis, underlying inflammatory or infectious central nervous system disorder, inner ear infection, history of vertigo, baseline visual or hearing impairment, macular degeneration, untreated glaucoma, implantable medical devices or any medical condition that investigator deems contraindicated
  • Patient with an underlying chronic pain disorder, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, or other psychiatric illness unspecified
  • Patient with active Clostridium difficile infection
  • Patient on any acute (within last \< 24 hour [hr]) or chronic pain medication (opioid, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug [NSAID], steroid)
  • Patient on chronic steroids > 10 mg prednisone equivalent daily or other immunosuppressant > 1 week
  • Patient who is post bone marrow transplant
  • Patient with a body mass index (BMI) > 35
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
60 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Arm I: Virtual Reality

    Participants receive the VR intervention during bone marrow biopsy or lumbar puncture lasting until completion of the procedure. Participants will be trained to use VR equipment prior to the bone marrow biopsy or lumbar puncture. The headset will cover both eyes with a strap along the back to hold the headset in place. The headset will be attached by a wire to a laptop which will power the headset and provide content. A remote control will be available for assistance in setting up or stopping the content in the case of an event. The VR content will consist of meditation and relaxing techniques through visual and auditory input which can last up to one hour. There will be minimal stimulatory effort to decrease excess movement for the procedure.

    Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis · Device: Oculus Rift Headset · Other: Questionnaire Administration

  • Active comparator
    Arm II: No Virtual Reality

    Participants receive standard of care during bone marrow biopsy or lumbar puncture.

    Other: Best Practice · Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis · Other: Questionnaire Administration

Interventions

  • OtherBest Practice

    Receive standard of care

    Also known as: standard of care, standard therapy

  • OtherLaboratory Biomarker Analysis

    Correlative studies

  • DeviceOculus Rift Headset

    Subject wears headset for virtual reality intervention during bone marrow biopsy or lumbar puncture procedure

  • OtherQuestionnaire Administration

    Ancillary studies

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain as assessed according to a visual analog scale (VAS)

    A visual analogue pain scale is a validated pain measure. A 10 centimeter horizontal line with a 0 (no pain) on the far left and 10 (worst possible pain) on the far right. Participants rate pain intensity by drawing a mark on the line. Pain intensity is obtained by measuring from the 0 to the participant's mark on the line, yielding a score from 0 to 10.

    Time frame: Up to 1 year

  2. Anxiety

    Will be assessed by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.

    Time frame: Up to 1 year

07

Study locations

1 site
  • USC / Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
    Los Angeles, California 90033, United States
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on May 13, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03568292
Lead sponsor
University of Southern California
Collaborators
National Cancer Institute (NCI), Virtually Strong, LLC
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jun 26, 2018
Start date
Mar 1, 2022
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2026 (estimated)
Completion
Mar 1, 2027 (estimated)
Last update
May 13, 2026

Study contacts

Jacek Pinski, MD
principal investigator · University of Southern California

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is suspended, as verified in May 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion