# Social Virtual Reality Experiences for Hospitalized Older Adult Trauma Patients to Reduce Pain

> **NIH NIH R03** · CORNELL UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $78,500

## Abstract

Older adults (i.e., those 65 years of age and older) account for more than 25% of all US hospital trauma
admissions, primarily due to falls and collisions. Given the aging population of the US, by 2050, approximately
40% of all trauma patients are estimated to be over the age of 65. Trauma patients experience high rates of
pain. Opioid medications are commonly used to manage trauma-related pain, but contribute to excess
morbidity, including risk of addiction, delirium occurrence, constipation, and falls. In addition, adverse events
resulting from opioid use increase hospital length-of stay, overall costs, risk of infection, and delays outpatient
rehabilitation. Multiple authorities have called for the development and testing of nonpharmacologic pain
mitigation approaches in this population, but few are in use. To address this gap, we propose to evaluate a
novel pain treatment, social virtual reality (SVR), in older adult trauma patients, in a two-step study to examine
feasibility, usability, and acceptability for patients, their friends and family, and, as a secondary measure,
clinicians who are involved in patient care. We will present existing versions of SVR to 10-15 patients, interview
them, and make iterative refinements according to their feedback. In the second part of this study, we will
conduct an uncontrolled pilot study with 25-30 older hospitalized patients, to establish the feasibility, usability,
and acceptability of SVR, and of data collection protocols and data availability to capture differences pain,
anxiety and mood. Patients will identify a “partner,” a family member or close friend, with whom they would like
to experience SVR, and a research assistant (RA) will provide headsets and intensive technical support for
both patient and partner. We will assess feasibility, usability and acceptability through successful recruitment
and completion of the study protocol, as well as through surveys using standard measures of usability and
acceptability for both groups: patients and partner. We will also examine differences in patient pain, anxiety,
and mood, measuring these outcomes pre- and post-intervention by survey as well as using a method of
ecological momentary assessment based on surveys in the headset and tracking user data.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10784719
- **Project number:** 5R03AG080413-02
- **Recipient organization:** CORNELL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Andrea Stevenson Won
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $78,500
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-02-15 → 2027-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10784719

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10784719, Social Virtual Reality Experiences for Hospitalized Older Adult Trauma Patients to Reduce Pain (5R03AG080413-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-13 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10784719. Licensed CC0.

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