Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Alethea Baker

Abstract

There is currently a problem in that cancer patients engaging in hospice may experience an excessive amount of perceived pain and a decreased quality of life. The purpose of this study was to explore an intervention that could lessen the perceived pain experienced by, and increase the quality of life of, cancer patients engaging in hospice. Immersion music virtual reality (IMVR) allows a user to interact with a realistic, computer-generated environment. 3D music (IMVR) is likely suited for pain management with patients in hospice and was used for this study. The theory for the study is the gate control theory. The model for the study is the biopsychosocial model. This study focused on whether there is a difference in pain experienced, pain perceived, and quality of life for cancer patients in hospice using only morphine and patients using IMVR and morphine. A two-group nonexperimental design addressed the research problem using archival data from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Participants included 176 (88 control group, 88 IMVR groups) adult cancer patients in hospice. This study provided valuable knowledge for the use of IMVR and treatment of chronic pain, which promises to facilitate positive social change in terms of improving the quality of life for cancer patients in hospice.

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