Abstract 1717P
Background
This study assessed the efficacy of immersive virtual reality (VR) as an adjunct in the management of treatment-related anxiety and depression among breast cancer outpatients undergoing chemotherapy at the University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital Cancer Institute.
Methods
In this open-label phase II randomized control trial, participants were randomly assigned into two groups during their first cycle of chemotherapy – the intervention group who were subjected to immersive VR experience using VR Box 3D goggle sets plus standard-of-care and the control group who received standard-of-care only. Anxiety and depression scores of at-risk breast cancer patients were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Pilipino (HADS-P) questionnaire before and after chemotherapy. The influence of clinico-demographic factors on the mean difference of HADS-P scores was explored. Pre- and post-chemotherapy blood pressures, heart rates, and respiratory rates were also determined.
Results
The investigators were able to screen 114 patients and 65.8% (n=75) had a HADS-P score of ≥11. The proportion of patients who were at-risk to develop treatment-related anxiety and depression was 73.5% (n=50) and 22.1% (n=15), respectively. A total of 68 patients were included in the randomization. Statistically significant mean differences of |-2.71| and |-4.74| (p<0.05) in the pre- and post-chemotherapy HADS-P scores between the control group and intervention group were reported. Changes in mean arterial pressures, heart rates, and respiratory rates pre- and post-chemotherapy were not statistically significant.
Conclusions
In this study, the investigators observed that immersive VR could potentially decrease the level of treatment-related anxiety and depression of at-risk breast cancer outpatients undergoing chemotherapy.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
University of the Philippines - Expanded Hospital Research Office.
Funding
University of the Philippines - Expanded Hospital Research Office.
Disclosure
M.M. Ando: Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital. M.J. Mendoza: Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital. L.M. Leones: Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital. F.I. Ting: Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital. D.B. Sacdalan: Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital.