The management of pain and anxiety using virtual reality during the care of elderly hospitalized patients: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: The medical environment, particularly in geriatric care settings, can be a source of stress and anxiety for patients. This is especially true during recurrent and painful care procedures-such as wound dressing (for pressure ulcers, surgical wounds, or chronic sores) and physiotherapy sessions-which are common in hospitals. In this context, the combination of physical pain, emotional vulnerability, and institutional routines contributes to a globally stressful environment, potentially impairing care quality and increasing the risk of care failure. Virtual reality (VR) offers promising complementary strategies to reduce anxiety and pain during such procedures. Objective: This study aims to assess and compare the effectiveness of personalized and non-personalized virtual reality interventions on pain and anxiety levels in elderly hospitalized patients, relative to standard care. Method: This single-center, randomized controlled trial will involve 120 participants recruited from the geriatric services of Cimiez Hospital in Nice, France, including rehabilitation and follow-up care units, long-term care units, and nursing homes. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: control group (standard care), personalized VR group, or non-personalized VR group. Each participant will be observed during a painful care session, and pain and anxiety will be assessed before, during, and immediately after the procedure. Discussion: This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a personalized and non-personalized virtual reality intervention in relieving pain and anxiety among older hospitalized individuals and compare it with standard care. Finally, the experiences of healthcare professionals involved will also be considered to assess the impact of these interventions on working conditions and patient support. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05759026. Registered on March 8, 2023.