Not yet recruitingNCT07867444Updated Oct 9, 2026

Virtual Reality-Guided Imagery in Hemodialysis Patients ( VRGI-HD )

An interventional study of virtual reality-guided imagery (VRGI) in End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD), sponsored by Islamic University of Najaf. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-09.

Sponsored by Islamic University of Najaf · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care

Updated Oct 9, 2026Newly registeredGo to Updates ↓

Phase: Not applicable
Study type: Interventional
Enrollment: 80
Allocation: Randomized
Ages: 18 Years and older
Sex: All

Study summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of virtual reality guided imagery on selected health outcomes among adult patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either a virtual reality-guided imagery intervention group or a routine-care control group. Participants in the intervention group will receive virtual reality guided imagery during hemodialysis sessions using a virtual reality headset and standardized guided imagery content, while the control group will receive routine care. The study will assess whether virtual reality-guided imagery can improve the selected outcomes among patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Read the detailed description

Hemodialysis is an essential treatment for patients with end-stage kidney disease; however, patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis may experience various physical and psychological symptoms during treatment. These symptoms may negatively affect patients' comfort and overall treatment experience. Virtual reality-guided imagery (VRGI) is a non-pharmacological nursing intervention that combines immersive virtual reality environments with guided imagery techniques. The intervention is designed to provide a relaxing and engaging experience that may help patients shift their attention away from the hemodialysis environment and treatment-related discomfort. In this randomized controlled trial, VRGI will be provided to eligible adult patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis. Participants allocated to the intervention group will receive standardized VR-guided imagery using a virtual reality headset during a hemodialysis session, while participants in the control group will receive routine care. The intervention will be delivered in a standardized manner to ensure consistency across participants. The study will evaluate the effect of VRGI on the prespecified study outcomes and compare changes between the intervention and routine-care groups. The study is based on the use of a non-pharmacological, patient-centered nursing intervention intended to promote comfort during hemodialysis. The findings may provide evidence regarding the feasibility and potential benefits of incorporating virtual reality-guided imagery into nursing care for patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis.

Conditions studied

End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD)

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Keywords

Pain
Anxaiety
VRGI
Fatigue

In context

Kidney Failure, Chronic

2,121 studies on the registry are indexed under Kidney Failure, Chronic; 264 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 80 is above the median of 55 across 1,582 interventional studies indexed under Kidney Failure, Chronic.

Browse Kidney Failure, Chronic studies →

Lead sponsor

This is the only study on the registry with Islamic University of Najaf as lead sponsor.

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

Who can participate

Ages eligible: 18 Years and older
Sexes eligible: All
Accepts healthy volunteers: No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

Patients aged ≥18 years.
Diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and receiving maintenance hemodialysis.
Undergoing hemodialysis three times per week. Receiving maintenance hemodialysis for at least 3 months before enrollment.
Able to communicate verbally and understand Arabic.
Conscious, alert, and able to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent.
Able to safely use a VR headset and tolerate the VRGI intervention.
Agree to participate in the study and comply with the study procedures .

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients with cognitive impairment or altered mental status that may interfere with understanding the intervention or completing the assessment.
Patients with severe visual or auditory impairment that prevents effective use of the VR intervention.
Patients with a history of severe motion sickness, vestibular disorders, or significant intolerance to VR.
Patients who are hemodynamically unstable during the dialysis session.
Patients experiencing an acute medical complication requiring interruption or modification of the dialysis session.
Patients who have participated in a similar VR intervention recently, if this could influence the study outcomes.
Patients who are unable to complete the intervention or outcome assessments.

Study design

Phase: Not applicable
Primary purpose: Supportive care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel assignment
Masking: None (open label)
Enrollment: 80 participants (estimated)

Study arms

Experimental
Arm 1 VRGI
Participants assigned to this group will receive standardized virtual reality-guided imagery (VRGI) during a hemodialysis session in addition to routine care. The intervention will be delivered using a virtual reality headset and standardized guided imagery content designed to provide a relaxing and immersive experience during hemodialysis.
Behavioral: virtual reality-guided imagery (VRGI)
No intervention
Arm 2 Routine care
Participants assigned to this group will receive routine hemodialysis care according to the usual clinical practice of the dialysis unit without the virtual reality guided imagery intervention

Interventions

Behavioralvirtual reality-guided imagery (VRGI)
Virtual reality-guided imagery (VRGI) is a non pharmacological behavioral intervention delivered during a hemodialysis session using a virtual reality headset. Participants will experience standardized immersive visual content accompanied by guided imagery audio designed to promote relaxation and provide distraction from the hemodialysis environment. The intervention will be delivered in a standardized manner in addition to routine hemodialysis care.
Also known as: VRGI

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

Pain intensity
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst possible pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the hemodialysis session/intervention

Secondary outcomes

Anxiety
Anxiety measured using the 6-item State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6), with higher scores indicating greater state anxiety.
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the hemodialysis session/intervention
Fatigue
Fatigue severity will be assessed using a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no fatigue and 10 indicates the worst possible fatigue. Higher scores indicate greater fatigue severity.
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the hemodialysis session/intervention.

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

Timeline

1 registry update since Sep 25, 2026

ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Start is estimated for Jan 2027; primary completion for Mar 2027, 2 months later.

Of 355 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Kidney Failure, Chronic, half reached primary completion within 23 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 8 and three quarters within 47. This study's planned 2 months is below that.

Counting every sponsor, half of 434 studies reached it within 23 months; a quarter within 8 and three quarters within 45.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered: Oct 1, 2026
First posted: Oct 9, 2026
StartEst.: Jan 1, 2027
Primary completionEst.: Mar 1, 2027
CompletionEst.: Apr 1, 2027
Last update: Oct 9, 2026

What these dates mean

Start.: When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.: When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.: When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.: Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.

Registered

First appeared on the registry. No changes since

Oct 9, 2026

Show all 1 update

Oct 9, 2026
First appeared on the registry

From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Registry details

Key details

Study ID: NCT07867444
Lead sponsor: Islamic University of Najaf
Responsible party: Thoalfokar Mohammed (PhD Candidate, Islamic University of Najaf) — Principal investigator
First posted: Oct 9, 2026
Start date: Jan 1, 2027 (estimated)
Primary completion: Mar 1, 2027 (estimated)
Completion: Apr 1, 2027 (estimated)
Last update: Oct 9, 2026

Study contacts

Thulfiqar Mohammed Abdalhussien, PhD candidate

Contact

thulfiqar.abd2402p@conursing.uobaghdad.edu.iq

07831476489

Ameer Wahhed Mohammed, PhD candidate

Contact

07800526273

Oversight

Data monitoring committee: Yes
FDA-regulated drug: No
FDA-regulated device: No

View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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