Purpose

This trial aims to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and acceptability of a virtual reality (VR)-based cognitive stimulation game to reduce postoperative delirium among older surgical patients at high risk due to pre-existing cognitive impairment.

Conditions

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Under 65 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Men and women ≥65 years of age - Have a pre-existing diagnosis of cognitive impairment (Montreal Cognitive Assessment Score of 15-24) - Elective or emergency major surgery with the expectation of admission to the Intensive Care Unit following the surgery for three days following surgery

Exclusion Criteria

  • Pre-existing Intubation and invasive ventilation; - history of severe mental illness; - admission for a drug overdose; - severe vertigo; - history of severe postoperative nausea and vomiting; - hearing and visual impairment; - preexisting severe dementia (Montreal Cognitive Assessment Score < 15; and - active delirium at the time of screening for eligibility criteria. - Active suicidal ideation or behavior Screen failure after surgery - Prolonged intubation after surgery (more than 24 hours)

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Other
Masking
Single (Outcomes Assessor)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
VR intervention: VR-based cognitive stimulation games
Participants will engage in interactive, VR-based cognitive stimulation games.
  • Other: Virtual Reality Software
    The ReCognition virtual reality (VR) software is delivered via an Oculus Quest 2 device. This three-dimensional simulated software was designed to improve attention and executive functions. The VR session will occur once per day for 20 minutes.
Experimental
VR Control: watching a movie in VR
Participants will watch a non-interactive VR movie experience consisting of educational material.
  • Other: Virtual Reality movies
    This virtual reality software is delivered via an Oculus Quest 2 device. The Oculus Quest 2 device will be used to watch an educational movie. The VR session will occur once per day for 20 minutes.
Experimental
Nurse control: standard-of-care nurse-led reality orientation
Participants will receive standard-of-care, nurse-led reality orientation therapy.
  • Other: Nurse led control arm
    Reality orientation therapy focused on time, place, and person, administered twice daily, typically at the beginning and end of nursing shifts.

Recruiting Locations

Houston Methodist Hospital
Houston, Texas 77030
Contact:
Hina Faisal, MD
713-448-0343
hfaisal@houstonmethodist.org

Houston Methodist Research Insititute
Houston, Texas 77030

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
The Methodist Hospital Research Institute

Study Contact

Hina Faisal, MD
346-356-1400
hfaisal@houstonmethodist.org

Detailed Description

Delirium is a sudden, fluctuating disturbance in consciousness and cognition and is highly prevalent in older surgical patients. Delirium is preventable; non-pharmacological interventions, such as cognitive stimulation (CS), are the best preventive strategies. Implementing CS in acute hospital settings is a significant challenge due to limited resources and low patient engagement. Virtual reality (VR) and gamification for CS delivery could be a scalable, engaging solution. Based on my preliminary work, I hypothesize that VR- based CS games will be safe, feasible, and acceptable in high-risk older patients (Aim 1). The proposed study will estimate the intervention's effect on cognitive functions, particularly sustained attention (Aim 2), and the incidence of postoperative delirium (Aim 3). To accomplish the above goals, I will conduct a randomized controlled pilot trial involving 90 patients ≥65 years old with pre-existing cognitive impairment admitted to the hospital following a major surgery. Patients will be randomized 1:1:1 to receive VR-based CS games (intervention), watch a VR movie (VR control), or receive standard-of-care nurse-led reality orientation (Nurse control). The trial will provide me with preliminary data to support an R01 application.

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.