# Randomized-controlled trial of virtual reality for chronic low back pain to improve patient-reported outcomes and physical activity (HEAL Supplement)

> **NIH NIH UH3** · CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER · 2023 · $81,593

## Abstract

Abstract
Background
The parent HEAL Initiative study was designed to assess the impact of immersive virtual reality (VR) on patient
reported outcomes (PROs), activity metrics, and opioid use among patients with chronic lower back pain (cLBP).
To supplement the parent study, this mixed methods research (MMR) proposal will shed light on how
race/ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, and age may pose barriers to implementing the VR therapeutic
intervention, and how cultural perceptions of the VR intervention may correlate with meta data and patient
reported outcomes (PROs).
Objective
The study’s aims are to 1) understand any barriers to implementing therapeutic VR technologies across diverse
populations; 2) learn how cultural differences influence perception of the VR content; 3) explore the correlations
between how diverse groups differentially use therapeutic VR technologies; and 4) discover how PROs correlate
with the collected qualitative data. The study’s overarching goal is to better understand cultural differences and
the digital divide regarding therapeutic VR so that ultimately future therapeutic immersive VR applications and
research will be designed to be more equitable and inclusive.
Methods
Qualitative one-on-one semi-structured interviews will be performed with a diverse selection of participants who
completed the VR intervention. Patient recruitment will be selective to maximize diversity in terms of
race/ethnicity (Black, Hispanic, White), gender, socioeconomic status, and geographic location as determined
by zip-code (rural, suburban, urban). The interviews will be coded into major and minor concepts which will be
used to generate code count histograms for each of the above categories. We will also develop a network to
depict a framework describing the breadth and depth of concepts. Finally, the coded qualitative data will be
correlated with the participants’ PROs and meta data extracted from the VR headset including duration of use,
time of use, and frame-by-frame output of head rotation throughout the experience. At least five participants will
be recruited into each of the above specified categories, with an estimated total recruitment of twenty
participants.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10650652
- **Project number:** 3UH3AR076573-04S2
- **Recipient organization:** CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Brennan Spiegel
- **Activity code:** UH3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $81,593
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-09-25 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10650652

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10650652, Randomized-controlled trial of virtual reality for chronic low back pain to improve patient-reported outcomes and physical activity (HEAL Supplement) (3UH3AR076573-04S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10650652. Licensed CC0.

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