Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40204322›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2025

Virtual Reality and Sound Intervention under Chemotherapy (ViSu): study protocol for a three-arm randomised-controlled trial.

Steffen Holsteg, Luisa Ernsten, Nora K Schaal, Luisa M Keßling, Nele Schmutzler, Tanja N Fehm, Verena Friebe, Norbert Gattermann, Eugen Ruckhäberle, André Karger

Abstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Steffen Holsteg *Center for Integrated Oncology Düsseldorf (CIO-D), Düsseldorf, Germany Steffen.Holsteg@med.uni-duesseldorf.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-9409-4229
Luisa Ernsten *Clinical Institute for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty & University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universitat Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9108-4013
Nora K SchaalDepartment of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Luisa M KeßlingClinical Institute for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty & University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universitat Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Nele SchmutzlerClinical Institute for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty & University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universitat Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Tanja N FehmCenter for Integrated Oncology Düsseldorf (CIO-D), Düsseldorf, Germany.
Verena FriebeCenter for Integrated Oncology Düsseldorf (CIO-D), Düsseldorf, Germany.
Norbert GattermannCenter for Integrated Oncology Düsseldorf (CIO-D), Düsseldorf, Germany.
Eugen RuckhäberleCenter for Integrated Oncology Düsseldorf (CIO-D), Düsseldorf, Germany.
André KargerCenter for Integrated Oncology Düsseldorf (CIO-D), Düsseldorf, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4819-0144

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionPatients undergoing chemotherapy often experience side effects during treatment, including psychological distress and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Interventions during chemotherapy that divert attention from potentially aversive environmental factors have been demonstrated to have a beneficial impact on these symptoms. Virtual reality (VR) offers the potential to visually and audibly disengage from the surrounding environment and can create an alternative sense of presence. This could facilitate the implementation of active guided interventions that may prove more effective than receptive interventions, such as listening to music. The present study examines the feasibility, acceptance and effectiveness of a VR intervention and a music intervention during chemotherapy.

methodsThe single-centre three-arm, randomised-controlled trial investigates the efficacy of a VR mindfulness intervention and a music intervention in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy at the University Hospital Düsseldorf, Germany. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either (a) the VR mindfulness intervention, (b) the receptive music intervention or (c) the standard care (control group) in two consecutive chemotherapy sessions. A comprehensive psychological assessment and self-ratings using visual analogue scales will be conducted with situational anxiety as the primary outcome measure. Additionally, secondary measures will be employed to assess cancer-related anxiety, self-efficacy and chemotherapy-related side effects. Furthermore, salivary cortisol, heart rate and blood pressure will be recorded. At the end of the study, an evaluation questionnaire will be completed. It is planned to enrol 82 patients. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has been approved by the ethics committee of the medical faculty of the Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf (2022-1880). Written informed consent is obtained from the patients prior to participation. The results will be published in international scientific, peer-reviewed journals. Conference presentations are also planned. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00029738).

Indexed as

Antineoplastic AgentsAnxietyMindfulnessMusic TherapyNeoplasmsVirtual RealityAdultDepressionFemaleGermanyHumansMaleRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicAntineoplastic AgentsCHEMOTHERAPYeHealthMindfulnessStress, PsychologicalVirtual Reality

Identifiers

PMID40204322
PMCPMC11987127

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.