{"id":162113,"date":"2026-06-02T15:19:30","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T14:19:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/?p=162113"},"modified":"2026-06-09T13:35:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T12:35:08","slug":"can-virtual-reality-help-reduce-symptoms-in-dialysis-patients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/2026\/06\/02\/can-virtual-reality-help-reduce-symptoms-in-dialysis-patients\/","title":{"rendered":"Can virtual reality help reduce symptoms in dialysis patients?"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t<p>Dr Emma Murphy, from the Centre for Care Excellence at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust and Coventry University, has been awarded a \u00a340,000 nurse start-up grant to explore whether using virtual reality (VR) can help reduce symptoms in people receiving <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/2025\/07\/07\/kidney-cancer-left-me-needing-open-heart-surgery-and-dialysis\/\">dialysis<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<figure itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/20210427_151930-scaled-e1622726454855.jpg\" alt=\"Ben Reynolds virtual reality research\" height=\"1267\" width=\"1920\" title=\"Nurse testing virtual reality research\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/20210427_151930-scaled-e1622726454855.jpg\" alt=\"Ben Reynolds virtual reality research\" height=\"1267\" width=\"1920\" title=\"Nurse testing virtual reality research\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/noscript>\r\n\t\t<figcaption>Nurse testing virtual reality tool<\/figcaption>\r\n\t<\/figure>\r\n\t<h2>Exploring a new way to reduce symptoms without medication<\/h2>\r\n<p>More than 26,000 people in the UK with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/living-with-kidney-disease\/kidney-failure\/\">kidney failure<\/a>\u00a0rely on\u00a0in\u2011centre <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/living-with-kidney-disease\/care-and-treatments-for-people-with-kidney-failure\/haemodialysis\/\">haemodialysis<\/a>.\u00a0Most\u00a0people\u00a0attend hospital three times a week, spending four to five hours connected to a dialysis machine each visit. While dialysis is\u00a0a life-sustaining treatment, it can come with a heavy physical and emotional burden.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>People on dialysis often live with multiple symptoms such as pain, extreme tiredness, itching, anxiety, low mood and breathlessness. Together, these are known as &#8220;symptom burden&#8221;, which can have a major impact on quality of life. This study will explore whether VR could offer a new, non\u2011drug way to help reduce these symptoms.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>&#8220;My research\u00a0focuses\u00a0on improving how symptoms are recognised and managed for people on dialysis. Through leading a kidney symptom management clinic, I see how common and challenging these symptoms\u00a0are and how\u00a0they affect everyday life. This is what drives my research\u00a0&#8211;\u00a0finding more holistic ways to support people receiving dialysis, alongside existing treatments.&#8221;<b>\u00a0\u00a0Dr Emma Murphy.<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<figure itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dr-Emma-Murphy-Headshot-250x250.jpg\" alt=\"Headshot of Emma, she is wearing a white shirts and has long brown hair.\" height=\"250\" width=\"250\" title=\"Dr Emma Murphy\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dr-Emma-Murphy-Headshot-250x250.jpg\" alt=\"Headshot of Emma, she is wearing a white shirts and has long brown hair.\" height=\"250\" width=\"250\" title=\"Dr Emma Murphy\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/noscript>\r\n\t\t<figcaption>Dr Emma Murphy<\/figcaption>\r\n\t<\/figure>\r\n\t<h2>Meet the researcher<\/h2>\r\n<p>Dr Emma Murphy is an associate clinical professor\u00a0in the Centre for Care Excellence,\u00a0a\u00a0nurse clinical academic in kidney care, and a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) senior research leader. With extensive clinical experience, her research focuses on kidney supportive care, particularly improving symptoms and quality of life for people receiving dialysis. <\/p>\r\n<p>Emma completed a PhD in palliative medicine at King&#8217;s College London, with training in epidemiology alongside senior clinical practice, focusing on outcomes and experiences of people receiving dialysis. \u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>&#8220;Opportunities like Kidney Research UK grants are vital in supporting nurses to develop research careers, including through clinical academic routes.&#8221;<b>Dr Emma Murphy.<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\t<h2>Virtual reality in healthcare<\/h2>\r\n<p>VR\u00a0is being explored as a\u00a0non\u2011drug way to support people during treatment. By wearing a headset, people can experience calming, immersive environments, such as beaches or forests, with accompanying sound. \u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>A small number of studies in dialysis and other\u00a0settings suggest VR may help\u00a0people relax and feel distracted,\u00a0including reducing pain during procedures\u00a0such as needle insertion. However,\u00a0most\u00a0research has\u00a0focused on short-term use. There is limited evidence on\u00a0whether VR can be used regularly during dialysis, how acceptable it is to patients\u00a0and healthcare professionals,\u00a0and whether it can help address a wider range of symptoms over time.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>This study will take place at a UK dialysis centre. Emma and the research team will explore the preferences, concerns\u00a0and expectations of\u00a0both patients and\u00a0healthcare professionals when using VR during\u00a0dialysis. The focus\u00a0is\u00a0on whether VR is practical and acceptable to use, and whether it may help reduce symptom burden and improve the experience of dialysis care over time.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>The study will begin with a workshop\u00a0involving patients and dialysis staff to shape how VR is used. Participants will then\u00a0take part in short VR sessions\u00a0lasting around 20 minutes during the first hour of dialysis, over four weeks.\u00a0Participants will\u00a0complete symptom questionnaires,\u00a0developed with people living with kidney disease, and will be invited to share more detailed feedback on their VR experience.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p><b>Dr Emma Murphy added:<\/b>\u00a0&#8220;People with lived experience of kidney disease have shaped\u00a0this study from the start.\u00a0A\u00a0Kidney Research UK patient involvement group worked in partnership with the research team to prioritise which symptoms to measure, the choice of questionnaires, and the importance of capturing people&#8217;s experiences.&#8221;<\/p>\r\n<figure itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Jennifer_29369.jpg\" alt=\"Female nurse, wearing blur hospital uniform, with the VR headset and holding controllers in front of her.\" height=\"2560\" width=\"1707\" title=\"Nurse using virtual reality headset\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Jennifer_29369.jpg\" alt=\"Female nurse, wearing blur hospital uniform, with the VR headset and holding controllers in front of her.\" height=\"2560\" width=\"1707\" title=\"Nurse using virtual reality headset\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/noscript>\r\n\t\t<figcaption>Nurse using virtual reality headset<\/figcaption>\r\n\t<\/figure>\r\n\t<h2>What could this mean for kidney patients?<\/h2>\r\n<p>This study will explore whether VR can be used during dialysis in a\u00a0practical and acceptable way, and whether it has the potential to help\u00a0reduce\u00a0symptoms over time. The findings will help\u00a0inform future\u00a0studies and\u00a0improve understanding of non-drug approaches that could support more person-centred care during dialysis.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>&#8220;People on dialysis often live with symptoms that affect\u00a0daily life. This study explores whether virtual reality can be used in a way that feels acceptable and helpful during dialysis, and whether it\u00a0could reduce\u00a0symptom burden over time as part of more\u00a0person\u2011centred\u00a0care.&#8221;<b>\u00a0Dr Emma Murphy<\/b><\/p>\r\n\t<h2>Working together as a multidisciplinary kidney research team\u00a0<\/h2>\r\nThis study brings together a multidisciplinary research team, including kidney nurses, dietitians, and doctors, virtual reality and digital health specialists, and people with experience of dialysis, to improve symptom care.<br \/>\r\n\r\n<p>The research team includes:\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>Professor Nithya Krishnan, Consultant Nephrologist, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust and Coventry University<\/p>\r\n<p>Professor Helen Hurst, Professor of Nursing, University of\u00a0Salford\u00a0and\u00a0Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust<\/p>\r\n<p>Dr Jyoti Baharani, Consultant Nephrologist, University Hospitals Birmingham<\/p>\r\n<p>Joe Duffy, Virtual Reality Developer, King&#8217;s College London<\/p>\r\n<p>Dr Michael Loizou, Associate Professor in Digital Health and Co-Director of the Centre for Health Technology, University of Plymouth<\/p>\r\n<p>Professor Ala\u00a0Szczepura, Professor Emerita Health Technology\u00a0Assessment, Coventry University<\/p>\r\n<p>The study is also supported by Kidney Research UK research fellow\u00a0Beverley Beynon-Cobb, kidney service lead dietitian and CKD research fellow at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/research.mededcoventry.org\/About-Us\/Meet-The-Team\/CFCE\">The\u00a0Centre for Care Excellence (CfCE)<\/a>\u00a0is a pioneering partnership between University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust and Coventry University.\u00a0CfCE\u00a0empowering nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals to deliver high-quality, impactful research that improves person-centred\u00a0care, strengthens the clinical academic workforce, and accelerates the translation of evidence into practice.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<figure itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/kidney-kit-2025-1-500x500.png\" alt=\"Kidney Kit bundle\" height=\"500\" width=\"500\" title=\"kidney-kit\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/kidney-kit-2025-1-500x500.png\" alt=\"Kidney Kit bundle\" height=\"500\" width=\"500\" title=\"kidney-kit\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/noscript>\r\n\t<\/figure>\r\n\t<h2>Have you been diagnosed with kidney disease?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Request your free Kidney Kit today.<\/p>\r\n<p>You&#8217;ll find tips and support from kidney patients, delicious recipes, simple exercise plans and more.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-kit\/\"  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGet your free Kidney Kit\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t<h2>Why not make a donation now?<\/h2>\r\n\t\t<p>Every \u00a3 counts towards transforming treatments for people living with kidney disease.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/support\/donate\/\"  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDonate now\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dr Emma Murphy, from the Centre for Care Excellence at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust and Coventry University, has been awarded a \u00a340,000 nurse start-up grant to explore whether using virtual reality (VR) can help reduce symptoms in people receiving dialysis.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nurse testing virtual reality tool Exploring a new way to reduce symptoms&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":66536,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[319,29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-162113","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dialysis","category-research"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Can virtual reality help reduce symptoms in dialysis patients? - Kidney Research UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dr Emma Murphy is exploring whether using virtual reality (VR) can help reduce symptoms in people receiving dialysis.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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