Exploring the Feasibility of Using Virtual Reality as an Educational Tool in Chronic Pain Rehabilitation

Starting soon · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Pain, Chronic Pain, Chronic Pain (Back / Neck), Adults, Virtual Reality, Neuroscience Pain Education

In brief

Introduction: Chronic pain significantly impacts quality of life and requires comprehensive management strategies. Traditional pain education programs are beneficial but often require significant and prolonged patient engagement. Virtual reality (VR) offers a novel approach by creating immersive environments that may enhance the effectiveness of pain education. This protocol outlines a feasibility study to investigate the use of a Virtual Reality (VR) pain education program for people living with chronic pain (PwCP). Aim of the investigation: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of delivering a VR pain education program for PwCP. The secondary aim will explore the pre-to-post-test changes in clinical outcomes as proof of concept for a future larger scale investigation. Methods: We will use Reality Health™ as the VR tool to deliver pain science education. The study will be conducted as a single-arm feasibility study using a pretest:posttest design. Fifty PwCP will engage in the six-week Reality Health™ programme. This education programme focuses on the neurophysiology of pain, pain modulation techniques, cognitive-behavioural strategies and guided virtual exercises. Results: Primary outcome measures will include the feasibility, acceptability and safety of Reality Health™ including recruitment, retention, intervention adherence and attrition rates. Secondary outcomes will explore the pre-to-post-test changes in outcome measures relating to pain intensity, pain interference, pain self-efficacy, pain self catastrophizing, quality of life and depression as proof of concept for a future larger scale investigation. Conclusions: Results will establish the feasibility, acceptability and safety of using Reality Health™ in the treatment of chronic pain, informing a future randomised control trial. Ethical approval: Ethics has been granted from University College Dublin's Human Research Ethics Board (HREC-LS-25-868587). Acknowledgements: This work is funded through the Interreg north-west Europe project 'Scale-Up Rehab,'approved and funded by the European Commission \[NWE0100082\]. Disclosures: None. Keywords: Virtual Reality, Chronic Pain, Pain Education, Feasibility Study, Protocol

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07434804

Run by

University College Dublin

People needed

50

Starts

2026-02-20

Expected to finish

2026-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-02-27

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• ≥18 years old
• Diagnosed with chronic pain by a consultant in pain medicine or a general practitioner with any type of chronic pain for at least 3 months
• Report a pain intensity of >3 on a Numerical Rating Scale
• Be proficient in written and spoken English

You may not qualify if…

• Not able to provide informed consent
• Scheduled for surgical treatment related to their pain condition within the next 6 months
• Have a medical/psychiatric condition that would prevent engagement in the pain education programme

Where it is running

• School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin — Dublin, Ireland

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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