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Virtual Reality Devices as an Adjunct to Usual Care for Patients With Sickle Cell Disease Experiencing Vaso-Occlusive Crises

Pilot Study to Investigate the Use of Virtual Reality Devices as an Adjunct to Usual Care for Patients With Sickle Cell Disease Experiencing Vaso-Occlusive Crises

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

* Adult (age \> 18 years) emergency department patient
* History of sickle cell disease
* Presenting to the emergency department due to acute pain related to sickle cell disease thought to be due to vaso-occlusive crisis

Exclusion Criteria:

* Prior enrollment in this study
* Presenting with a chief complaint suggestive of a complicated crisis (such as concern for acute chest syndrome, splenic sequestration, hepatic sequestration, pulmonary embolism) as determined by the clinical care provider
* Not being treated with intravenous opioids for the vaso-occlusive crisis
* Patients who lack the capacity to provide informed consent
* Medical history of seizures or known intolerance to virtual reality
* Disabilities like vision and hearing defects etc. that preclude the use of a head mounted virtual reality device.
* Known to be pregnant
* Incarcerated at the time of evaluation
* Over the age of 89 years old

About the study

This study aims to evaluate the use of virtual reality as an adjunct to standard care for patients with sickle cell disease experiencing vaso-occlusive crises.

What is being tested

• Virtual Reality Headset and Hand-Held Controllers (device)
• Blindfolding and Noise Cancelling (other)

Sponsor: University of Maryland, Baltimore · Participants: 30 · Started: Nov 1, 2024

Contact the study team

• R. Gentry Wilkerson, MD · Phone: 410-328-4237

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06184126

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Sickle Cell Disease
• Acute Pain

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Oct 2, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.