Integrating Immersive Virtual Reality Meditation into Palliative Oncology: A Randomized Trial Protocol for Evaluating Pain Relief and Quality of Life
Emily Santos Montarroyos, Sara Lima, Raimundo Barreto, Rosana Pimentel Correia Moysés, Letícia Zumpano Cardenas
Healthcare January 21, 2026 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare14020266 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized clinical trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Cancer patients under palliative care at the Pain Therapy and Palliative Care Service of the CECON Foundation |
| Intervention | Immersive virtual reality meditation |
| Topics | Meditation End-of-life distress |
| Keywords | Randomized controlled trial Palliative care Protocol science Virtual reality Clinical trial Population Physical therapy Cancer pain Health care Guided imagery Alternative medicine Medline |
| Registration | NCT06328751 |
| Key findings | The study protocol describes a planned investigation of immersive virtual reality as a meditation tool for pain management and quality of life improvement in palliative cancer patients. |
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Cancer is a disabling, challenging, and growing global disease. Although early diagnosis and adequate treatment of cancer are developing rapidly, a large part of the population remains without access to specialized services and routinely progresses to uncontrolled pain, poorer quality of life, and suffering. Complementary therapies for pain management and the well-being of patients under palliative care are fundamental tools of integrative oncological medicine. This first version of the protocol was created in August 2023 to structure the aim of this study to investigate the effectiveness of the experimental protocol which uses immersive virtual reality as a meditation tool in patients followed at the Pain Therapy and Palliative Care Service of the CECON Foundation.
Methods: This randomized clinical trial, conducted at the Pain Therapy and Palliative Care Service (STDCP) of the FCECON, explores the use of immersive virtual reality to promote regular meditation practice among cancer patients as an effective means of managing pain and improving quality of life.
Discussion: The present study has the potential to evaluate the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality as a meditation tool for patients undergoing palliative care, in addition to contributing scientific evidence that supports better decisions in healthcare for the management of cancer pain.
Trial Registration: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC) and ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT06328751/Universal Trial Number (UTN) U1111-1304-3752.