Exploring Virtual Reality Mindfulness Training for Veterans With SCI and Chronic Pain
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- VA Compassionate Awareness Learning Module (VA CALM) a mindfulness curriculum.
- Conditions
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Sponsor
- VA Office of Research and Development
- Enrollment
- 10
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Mindfulness- Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)
- Status
- Recruiting
- Last Updated
- 2 months ago
Overview
Brief Summary
This study involves delivering a mindfulness program that was developed for Veterans called VA Compassionate Awareness Learning Module (VA CALM) to Veterans with spinal cord injuries (SCI) to develop accommodations to make the VA CALM program more accessible for those with SCI. It will involve delivering the unmodified curriculum to a group of Veterans with SCI first to determine what areas need accommodations, working with a group of stakeholders to develop appropriate accommodations, and then delivering 1-2 modified modules via virtual reality to evaluate whether using virtual reality was feasible and acceptable for this program.
Detailed Description
The objectives of this study are to explore the feasibility and acceptability of a spinal cord injury (SCI) tailored, evidence-based mindfulness group known as VA Compassionate Awareness Learning Module (VA CALM) when delivered via virtual reality (VR) The project will first assess modification needs for SCI and then explore the feasibility and acceptability of delivering VA CALM-SCI over VR. The long-term goals and significance of this study include studying the efficacy of VA CALM-SCI for the treatment of chronic pain and examining the comparative effectiveness between VR and video telehealth modalities to build evidence for the modified intervention. This work has the potential to improve care for Veterans with SCI who are at risk of being left out of innovative clinical advancements that improve quality of life and well-being, due to the complexity of their medical condition. Aim 1: Conduct a formative evaluation of the VA CALM program to develop accommodations to improve program accessibility and acceptability for Veterans with SCI and chronic pain (VA CALM-SCI). * Aim 1a: Deliver the VA CALM program to 10 Veterans with SCI over telehealth to conduct a formative evaluation of the VA CALM curriculum to tailor for SCI contextual needs. * Aim 1b: Assemble a Steering Committee of SCI stakeholders (10 members) to develop appropriate strategies, accommodations, and recommended tools to support the delivery of VA CALM-SCI. Aim 2: Explore the feasibility and acceptability of delivering VA CALM-SCI over a Virtual Reality platform for Veterans with SCI and chronic pain. * Aim 2a: Assess potential VR applications and settings for delivery and testing of VA CALM-SCI. * Aim 2b: Deliver 2 VA CALM-SCI modules over VR to Veterans with SCI to assess the feasibility and acceptability of using VR in this population to deliver mindfulness training.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Diagnosis of spinal cord injury with incomplete or complete tetraplegia based on AIS score OR incomplete or complete paraplegia based on AIS score.
- •Endorses chronic pain lasting 3 months;
- •age 18+ years
- •Access to high-speed internet
- •Endorse being (at least) minimally proficient on the computer (eg, able to check emails, read the news, etc.); be able, either independently or with caregiver support, to get online for virtual meetings and don/doff VR equipment
- •Able to speak clearly and independently to participate in focus group interviews.
Exclusion Criteria
- •Individuals unable to consent for research or medical care are ineligible to participate.
Arms & Interventions
VA CALM
This group will receive the VA CALM mindfulness programming.
Intervention: VA Compassionate Awareness Learning Module (VA CALM) a mindfulness curriculum.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Mindfulness- Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)
Time Frame: Baseline to 2 weeks post completion (Approx 14 weeks).
Minimum Score: 1 Maximum Score: 5 Score Interpretation: Items are aggregated and averaged. Higher scores indicate greater mindfulness.
Pain- PROMIS-Pain Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
Time Frame: Baseline to 2 weeks post completion (Approx 14 weeks).
Minimum Score: 0 Maximum Score: 10 Score Interpretation: Single item measure, higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
Mindfulness- Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS)
Time Frame: Baseline to 2 weeks post completion (Approx 14 weeks).
Minimum Score: 1 Maximum Score: 6 Score Interpretation: Items are aggregated and averaged. Higher scores indicate greater mindfulness
Pain Interference- PROMIS-Pain Interference (PROMIS-PI, SF8a)
Time Frame: Baseline to 2 weeks post completion (Approx 14 weeks).
Minimum Score: 8 Maximum Score: 40 Score Interpretation: Scores are converted into a T-score which rescales the score into a standardized score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. Higher scores indicate greater pain interference.
Pain Acceptance- Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire-Revised (CPAQ-R)
Time Frame: Baseline to 2 weeks post completion (Approx 14 weeks).
Minimum Score: 0 Maximum Score: 6 Score Interpretation: Generates scores for two domains: Activity Engagement and Pain Willingness. Scores for each item in a domain are aggregated. Higher scores indicate higher levels of acceptance.
Pain Catastrophizing- Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)
Time Frame: Baseline to 2 weeks post completion (Approx 14 weeks).
Minimum Score: 0 Maximum Score: 52 Score Interpretation: Generates a total score PCS-T and three subscale scores: Rumination, Magnification, and Helplessness. Total score above 30 indicates clinically relevant level of catastrophizing.
Secondary Outcomes
- Quality of Life- World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief (WHOQOL-BREF)(Baseline to 2 weeks post completion (Approx 14 weeks).)
- Anxiety- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7)(Baseline to 2 weeks post completion (Approx 14 weeks).)
- Depression- Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)(Baseline to 2 weeks post completion (Approx 14 weeks).)
- Virtual Reality Embodiment- One-Item Presence Scale(After completion of 2nd VR session (One time point at completion of study, approximately week 12).)
- Virtual Reality Embodiment- Virtual Embodiment Questionnaire(After completion of 2nd VR session (One time point at completion of study, approximately week 12).)
- Acceptability of Virtual Reality- System Usability Scale (SUS)(After completion of 2nd VR session (One time point at completion of study, approximately week 12).)
- Acceptability of Virtual Reality- Standardized User Experience Percentile Rank Questionnaire (SUPRQ)(After completion of 2nd VR session (One time point at completion of study, approximately week 12).)
- Acceptability of Program- Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM)(After completion of 2nd VR session (One time point at completion of study, approximately week 12).)
- Acceptability of Program- Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM)(After completion of 2nd VR session (One time point at completion of study, approximately week 12).)