In Canada, chronic pain impacts the lives of one in five individuals, crescendoing in severity as the population ages. This condition represents a growing health concern, demanding more effective management strategies. Currently, interventions like hypnosis and virtual reality promise potential relief but are limited by methodological challenges in existing research. Against this backdrop, a groundbreaking study emerges, focusing on the intersection of virtual reality and hypnosis to alleviate chronic hand arthritis pain in the elderly. This fusion ventures into new therapeutic territory, promising innovative solutions for those grappling with pain management challenges.
Methodology
The initiative will unfold as a single-centre randomised clinical trial. Participants will be allocated randomly into two groups: one group will experience a combination of virtual reality and hypnosis, while the other will interact only with virtual reality. The primary aim is to evaluate differences in perceived pain before and after these interventions. Additionally, the study will scrutinise secondary aspects, including anxiety, depressive symptoms, relaxation, and quality of life. Researchers aspire to contribute to the emergent body of knowledge through exploratory analyses, particularly focusing on physiological aspects like heart rate variability and electrodermal activity.
Ethical Considerations and Dissemination
The ethical framework supporting this research has received approval from the Research Ethical Committee of the Hospital Maisonneuve-Rosemont. Participants will consent in writing to affirm their voluntary involvement. Following the study, insights will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, and actively shared at scientific conferences through oral and poster presentations. Notably, the protocol of this study boasts preregistration on the Open Science Framework, ensuring transparency and accessibility of raw anonymised data.
This critical inquiry aims to:
- Highlight the comparative impact of combined interventions versus single interventions.
- Investigate physiological responses relative to subjective pain experiences.
- Enhance methodological rigor in non-pharmacological pain intervention studies.
With chronic pain escalating in elderly demographics, this study offers an insightful look into promising therapies, leveraging technological advances paired with traditional methods like hypnosis. Historically, chronic pain management has relied heavily on pharmacological solutions, often accompanied by side effects. This investigation could reshape therapeutic landscapes by validating alternative, non-pharmacological options that older adults could adopt. The potential of virtual reality combined with hypnosis transcends conventional approaches, positing a future where multi-faceted interventions provide relief without the drawbacks of medication dependency. As the research community awaits results, hopes for a feasible and effective chronic pain management strategy rise, poised to enhance quality of life significantly for those burdened by persistent pain.
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