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Kidney Failure, ChronicNCT06479200

VR-Guided Mindfulness for ESKD Caregiver Well-Being

A study testing VR-guided mindfulness in people with Kidney Failure, Chronic, run by Alexandra Hospital.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
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Trial summary

This pilot randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of a virtual reality (VR)-guided mindfulness intervention for caregivers of patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 21 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Kidney Failure, Chronic
What is being tested?
VR-guided mindfulness
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
30 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
1 Aug 2024to 1 Aug 2025
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 21 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age 21 years or older
  • Primary caregiver of a patient with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) (stage 4 \& 5 with - estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.73 m²)
  • Proficient in English

Who cannot join

  • Known visual or hearing impairments
  • History of motion sickness
  • Active psychosis or suicidal ideation
  • Current regular mindfulness practice
  • History of seizure, stroke, or head injury

About this study

Official title: Protocol for Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial: Virtual Reality-Guided Mindfulness Intervention on Psychosocial Well-Being of End-Stage Kidney Disease Caregivers

This pilot randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of a virtual reality (VR)-guided mindfulness intervention for caregivers of patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Thirty ESKD caregivers will be randomly assigned to either a 6-week VR-guided mindfulness intervention or a sham VR control group. The study will assess changes in caregiver burden, stress, anxiety, depression, quality of life, and mindfulness using validated questionnaires. Feasibility outcomes, including recruitment, retention, adherence, and participant experiences, will also be evaluated. The findings will inform the design of a future larger-scale trial and may lead to the development of an accessible, technology-based support option for ESKD caregivers.

Read the detailed description

Background:

Caregivers of patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) face significant challenges that contribute to caregiver burden, negatively impacting their psychosocial well-being. Despite the well-documented challenges, support options for this population remain limited. Virtual reality (VR)-guided mindfulness interventions have shown promise in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression in various populations. This pilot study aims to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of a VR-guided mindfulness intervention specifically designed for ESKD caregivers.

Objectives:

Assess the efficacy of a VR-guided mindfulness intervention compared to a sham VR control on caregiver burden and related psychosocial outcomes in ESKD caregivers.

Evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the VR-guided mindfulness intervention for ESKD caregivers.

Explore participants' subjective experiences with the intervention and sham control through qualitative interviews.

Estimate effect sizes and variability to inform sample size calculations for a future definitive trial.

Methods:

This single-center, single-blind, parallel-group pilot randomized controlled trial will recruit 30 ESKD caregivers from Alexandra Hospital, Singapore. Participants will be randomly allocated to either the VR-guided mindfulness intervention group or the sham VR control group using a 1:1 allocation ratio.

Intervention:

The intervention group will receive a 6-week home-based VR-guided mindfulness program using an Oculus Quest 3 (or equivalent) headset. Participants will be instructed to practice 10-15 minutes of VR-guided mindfulness daily. The program will include guided meditation practices such as body scans, breath awareness, and loving-kindness meditation, delivered in immersive virtual environments designed to promote relaxation and focus.

Control:

The sham VR control group will receive a 6-week home-based intervention viewing relaxing nature videos without mindfulness content, matched for duration and VR experience.

Outcomes:

Primary outcomes include caregiver burden (Zarit Burden Interview), stress, anxiety, depression (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21), quality of life (Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form), and mindfulness (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire). These will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention (6 weeks), and follow-up (12 weeks).

Feasibility outcomes include accrual rate, retention rate, adherence rate, questionnaire completion rate, and side effect rate. Acceptability will be assessed through participant satisfaction questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with a subset of participants.

Data Analysis:

Quantitative data analysis will focus on estimating effect sizes for between-group differences in change scores for each outcome measure. Feasibility outcomes will be reported descriptively. Qualitative data from interviews will be analyzed using thematic analysis.

Potential Impact:

If the intervention demonstrates promising results, it could lead to the development of a low-cost, accessible, and scalable approach to reducing caregiver burden and improving psychosocial well-being among ESKD caregivers. The findings will inform the design and conduct of a future definitive RCT, which could have important implications for clinical practice and healthcare policy in supporting ESKD caregivers.

Being tested
VR-guided mindfulness, Sham VR
Keywords
virtual reality, mindfulness, caregiver burden, end-stage kidney disease, pilot randomized controlled trial
Medical subject headings
Kidney Failure, Chronic, Caregiver Burden

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • VR-guided mindfulnessBehavioural

    Also called Virtual reality mindfulness, VR mindfulness

    The VR-guided mindfulness intervention is a 6-week home-based program delivered through an Oculus Quest 3 (or equivalent) headset. Participants practice 10-15 minutes of guided mindfulness exercises daily in immersive virtual environments. The program includes various mindfulness techniques such as body scans, breath awareness, and loving-kindness meditation, designed to reduce stress and improve well-being.

  • Sham VROther

    Also called Control VR, Placebo VR

    The sham VR intervention is a 6-week home-based program that involves viewing relaxing nature videos without any mindfulness content. Participants use the same VR headset as the experimental group and engage with the sham content for 10-15 minutes daily, matching the duration of the experimental intervention. This sham intervention controls for the effects of using VR technology and engaging in a relaxing activity.

Study groups in NCT06479200
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
VR-guided mindfulness interventionExperimentalParticipants will receive a 6-week home-based VR-guided mindfulness intervention using the Oculus Quest 3 (or equivalent) headset and a mindfulness application. They will be instructed to practice 10-15 minutes of VR-guided mindfulness daily. The intervention will consist of guided meditation practices, such as body scans, breath awareness, and loving-kindness meditation, delivered in immersive virtual environments designed to promote relaxation and focus.
Receives: Behavioral: VR-guided mindfulness
Sham VR controlSham comparatorParticipants will receive a 6-week home-based sham VR intervention. They will view relaxing nature videos without mindfulness content for 10-15 minutes daily, matched for duration and VR experience with the experimental group. The sham VR control condition will use the same VR headset as the intervention group but will not include any guided mindfulness practices or instructions.
Receives: Other: Sham VR

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in Caregiver Burden

    Change in caregiver burden as measured by the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). The ZBI is a validated 22-item questionnaire that assesses the level of burden experienced by caregivers. Scores range from 0 to 88, with higher scores indicating greater caregiver burden.

    Measured: Baseline to 6 weeks (post-intervention)

Secondary outcomes (9)
  1. Change in Stress, anxiety, and depression

    Change in stress, anxiety, and depression levels as measured by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). The DASS-21 is a 21-item self-report questionnaire that measures the negative emotional states of depression, anxiety, and stress. Each subscale (Stress, Anxiety, Depression) consists of 7 items, scored from 0 (did not apply to me at all) to 3 (applied to me very much or most of the time).

    Measure: Total score on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) Unit of Measure: Points on a scale from 0 to 63 Direction: Lower scores indicate better outcome

    Measured: Baseline to 6 weeks (post-intervention) and 12 weeks (follow-up)

  2. Change in Quality of Life

    Change in quality of life as measured by the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF). The KDQOL-SF is a kidney disease-specific measure of health-related quality of life that includes the SF-36 as generic core plus items about kidney disease.

    Measure: Overall score on the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF) Unit of Measure: Points on a scale from 0 to 100 Direction: Higher scores indicate better outcome

    Measured: Baseline to 6 weeks (post-intervention) and 12 weeks (follow-up)

  3. Change in Mindfulness

    Change in mindfulness as measured by the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). The FFMQ is a 39-item questionnaire that assesses five facets of mindfulness: observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-judging of inner experience, and non-reactivity to inner experience.

    Measure: Total score on the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) Unit of Measure: Points on a scale from 39 to 195 Direction: Higher scores indicate better outcome (greater mindfulness)

    Measured: Baseline to 6 weeks (post-intervention) and 12 weeks (follow-up)

  4. Accrual rate

    The proportion of eligible caregivers who agree to participate in the study out of the total number of eligible caregivers approached.

    Measure: Number of participants enrolled divided by the number of eligible caregivers approached Unit of Measure: Percent

    Measured: Throughout the study period (12 weeks)

  5. Retention rate

    The proportion of enrolled participants who complete the study, including post-intervention (6 weeks) and follow-up (12 weeks) assessments.

    Measure: Number of participants completing the final follow-up assessment divided by the total number of participants enrolled Unit of Measure: Percent

    Measured: Throughout the study period (12 weeks)

  6. Adherence rate

    The proportion of participants who complete at least 80% of the prescribed VR sessions (29 out of 36 sessions over 6 weeks).

    Measure: Number of participants completing at least 29 VR sessions divided by the total number of participants in the intervention group Unit of Measure: Percent

    Measured: Throughout the study period (12 weeks)

  7. Questionnaire completion rate

    The proportion of participants who complete all outcome questionnaires (ZBI, DASS-21, KDQOL-SF, and FFMQ) at each assessment time point (baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks).

    Measure: Number of participants completing all questionnaires at all time points divided by the total number of enrolled participants Unit of Measure: Percent

    Measured: Throughout the study period (12 weeks)

  8. side effect rate

    The proportion of participants who report any adverse effects related to VR use (e.g., motion sickness, eye strain, headaches) throughout the study period.

    Measure: Number of participants reporting at least one side effect divided by the total number of participants using VR (both intervention and control groups) Unit of Measure: Percent

    Measured: Throughout the study period (12 weeks)

  9. Participant Satisfaction

    Assessment of participant satisfaction with the VR-guided mindfulness intervention using the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 (CSQ-8). Measure: Total score on the CSQ-8 Unit of Measure: Points on a scale from 8 to 32

    Measured: 6 weeks (post-intervention)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted28 Jun 2024
  2. Study start1 Aug 2024 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion1 Feb 2025 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Aug 2025 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
This study uses a parallel group design with two arms: a VR-guided mindfulness intervention group and a sham VR control group.
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
30 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06479200
Sponsor's protocol ID
AlexandraHospital
Status last verified
Jun 2024
First submitted
23 Jun 2024
Last updated
28 Jun 2024
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: The final trial dataset, including individual participant data (IPD), will be made available to other researchers upon reasonable request. This will include de-identified participant data from the primary and secondary outcome measures.

Publications

  • Shankar R, Hong WZ, Bundele A, Si KP, Mukhopadhyay A. Virtual reality-guided mindfulness intervention to enhance psychosocial well-being in caregivers of end-stage kidney disease patients: protocol for a mixed-methods pilot randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2024 Oct 22;14(10):e090550. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-090550.

    PubMed 39438104

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing VR-guided mindfulness in people with Kidney Failure, Chronic, run by Alexandra Hospital.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Jun 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in Caregiver Burden (time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks (post-intervention)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06479200, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Jun 2024.

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