Experiences of a Home-based Virtual Reality Serious Game in People With Chronic Non-specific Neck Pain

Background: Immersive virtual reality (VR) has been used for several years in the treatment of chronic neck pain. This new type of rehabilitation device, which can be used at home, is promising and seems to be as effective as conventional treatments for neck pain. Exploring the experience of people with chronic neck pain using this type of rehabilitation device at home could, among other things, help to understand the factors favoring good adherence and those not favoring it. This could also help us to improve VR home rehabilitation programs according to the patients' needs, preferences and expectations. However, currently, no studies have qualitatively evaluated the experience of people with chronic non-specific neck pain using an immersive VR serious game at home.

Objective: To explore the experience of people with chronic non-specific neck pain who used an immersive VR serious game at home.

Methods: Individual semi-structured interviews will be conducted with people with chronic non-specific neck pain. Interviews will last for approximately 30 to 60 minutes and will be carried out face-to-face or via videoconference (Microsoft Teams), depending on up-to-date guidance relating to the Covid-19 pandemic. Semi-structured interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts will be read several times and analyzed using thematic analysis, with themes emerging from the transcripts (inductive approach). These themes will be defined and revised throughout the analysis process.

Discussion: Study findings will help to better understand the experience of people with chronic non-specific neck pain using a VR serious game at home, and then will allow to adapt it to the subjects' needs, preferences and expectations. These adaptations could further increase adherence to treatment and/or improve clinical outcomes for people with chronic non-specific neck pain using this type of rehabilitation device at home.

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Key information

Conditions

Chronic Non-specific Neck Pain

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Université Catholique de Louvain

Brussels, Belgium

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Adults (over 18 years), men or women, living in Belgium
Chronic (> 3 months) non-specific neck pain (no specific cause responsible for the neck pain)
To speak fluent French and to be able to provide informed consent to take part in an interview
To be able to take part in a semi-structured interview
No susceptibility to motion sickness, according to the Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (MSSQ)

Exclusion criteria

Age under 18 years
Specific cause responsible for the neck pain (cancer, fracture, etc.)
Signs of sensorimotor dysfunction (dizziness, vestibular disorders)
Susceptibility to motion sickness, according to the MSSQ
Vision problems
Altered comprehension or inability to speak fluent French
Inability to provide written informed consent or to take part in a semi-structured interview

Treatment and study plan

semi-structured interview

Other

Semi-structured interview to explore the experience of people with chronic non-specific neck pain who used an immersive virtual reality serious game at home

Primary outcomes

General experience with the virtual reality serious game

Time frame: 30-60 minutes

Participants' responses based on the questions asked in the semi-structured interviews

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Université Catholique de Louvain

Other

Collaborators

Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique

Registry information

Official study title

Experiences of a Home-based Virtual Reality Serious Game in People With Chronic Non-specific Neck Pain: A Qualitative Study.

Important dates

Study start: 2022
Primary completion: 2022
Study completion: 2022
First posted: Feb 17, 2022
Registry last updated: Feb 28, 2023

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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Completed