PET/CT VR Tour
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Pilot study on the use of a Virtual Reality Tour to reduce anxiety in patients referred for PET/CT scans.
IRAS ID
308656
Contact name
Michael Adam Barnard
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN50051799
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 1 days
Research summary
Every year a small percentage of patients that are referred for a PET/CT are unable to complete the procedure due to claustrophobia induced or procedure related anxiety. As PET/CT involves the use of a radioactive tracer, patients that have the injection but then fail to finish the scan due to anxiety will receive the radiation detriment for no benefit. The project proposed will investigate whether a virtual tour constructed from 360 videos of the PET suite, and procedures that the patient would undergo (Virtual Reality (VR) intervention), displayed on a VR Headset, could be used to reduce patient anxiety, and improve patient experience. The VR tour is very much like the virtual tours that estate agents use to showcase properties. Anxiety will be measured using two validated anxiety measures before and once again after the intervention or Comparator. The second measure will be taken before the patients actual PET/CT scan. Anxious patients that are referred for PET/CT are given the opportunity to see the PET/CT scanner before their scan however this can be difficult to arrange due to clinical workload and due to the current Covid restrictions. This is a pilot study; therefore, the primary aim is to assess the acceptability and feasibility of the VR tour and collect data on a study specific anxiety measure for the intervention (VR) and comparator groups. This pilot will inform and appropriately power a larger trial and provide additional information to existing knowledge in literature.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/LO/0140
Date of REC Opinion
6 Apr 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion