Pediatric virtual reality intervention for sickle cell disease pain management
Innovative VR-based intervention designed to improve pain management and therapy engagement in pediatric Sickle Cell Disease patients. The solution aims to reduce pain perception and enhance movement through immersive experiences.
Overview
This innovative virtual reality (VR)-based intervention is designed to improve pain management and therapy engagement for pediatric patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). By offering an immersive experience, the VR tool aims to reduce pain perception and anxiety, fostering better engagement in movement and respiratory therapies. This can potentially alleviate chronic and acute pain, facilitating patient-centered care and improved health outcomes.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- The intervention includes pain neuroeducation and interactive games that promote adaptive relaxation strategies and movement.
- Participants engage with the VR system twice daily in 10-minute sessions over a four-day period.
- Activities are progressively structured, starting with seated exercises and advancing to dynamic movements like chair yoga and increased activity.
- Measures include usage data, self-reports on VR acceptability and immersiveness, physiological data (heart rate, respiratory rate, etc.), pain scores, and psychological outcomes.
- The system is implemented using Manage XR to track engagement and collect data.
Technology readiness level
Currently at TRL 3, the VR intervention has undergone initial research and is preparing for a multisite feasibility trial with 30 participants aged 8-18. The trial will assess feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy data, setting the stage for broader application in pediatric pain management.
About Children's Hospital Boston
Boston Children’s Hospital (formerly Children’s Hospital Boston) is a major pediatric teaching hospital and research enterprise in Boston’s Longwood Medical Area. Industry collaboration is enabled by co-located labs and shared core facilities embedded with clinical care, with established processes for sponsored research and clinical trials. Proximity to the Boston–Cambridge biotech cluster, together with affiliation to Harvard Medical School, provides access to collaborators and translational expertise. Research is supported by competitive federal funding, including the National Institutes of Health and other U.S. agencies. A dedicated tech transfer office and digital innovation program manage IP, licensing, startup formation, and collaboration agreements.
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