Clinical Research Directory
Browse clinical research sites, groups, and studies.
Testing the Timing and Application of Virtual Reality Distraction During Knee Injections in a VA Pain Clinic
Sponsor: Atlanta VA Medical Center
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether virtual reality (VR) can be added to routine knee injection appointments at a VA outpatient pain clinic without slowing down or disrupting clinic operations. The study will enroll 45 adult veterans who are scheduled for a knee injection at the Atlanta VA Arcadia pain clinic. The main questions it aims to answer are * Can a VR headset be set up and used during a knee injection with minimal time disruptions? * How many patients agree to take part, how many need to stop using the headset early, and how satisfied are patients and clinicians with the experience? Researchers will compare patients who wear a VR headset during their injection to patients who receive the usual injection without VR. This will show whether VR may change anxiety, time spent thinking about pain, satisfaction, and memory of the procedure. Participants will: * Be assigned by chance to one of two groups. Two out of every three participants will use VR, and one out of every three will receive usual care only. * If in the VR group, wear a headset showing a virtual environment with little motion. A research team member will place the headset before the needle goes in and remove it after the injection is finished. * Receive their scheduled knee injection as usual from their clinician. * Complete a short survey right after the procedure. Taking part happens during one clinic visit and takes about 30 minutes. The knee injection itself is standard care and is not changed by the study.
Official title: Theory to Application: Workflow Feasibility of Virtual Reality Sedation in a VA Pain Clinic
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
45
Start Date
2026-10
Completion Date
2027-01
Last Updated
2026-10-26
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Immersive Virtual Reality
Commercially available, non-invasive, head-mounted immersive virtual reality system used as a non-pharmacologic distraction adjunct during a standard of care intra-articular knee injection. The virtual environment contains low levels of motion to reduce the risk of cybersickness. A trained research team member places the headset after patient positioning and before needle insertion, provides a brief orientation, and removes it after needle withdrawal. Delivered once, during a single clinic visit. The device does not replace any component of standard clinical care.