We are working on a project to use a relaxing virtual reality video environment for people undergoing chemotherapy. My colleague has just emailed me this:

" Just emailing to ask your opinion on something…we are thinking about using GSR (galvanic skin response) monitors to measure physiological skin conductance responses during the Virtual Reality trial.

I spoke with G yesterday and he happened to mention that someone he had spoken to within the chronic pain healthcare sector said that they weren’t sure on using this kind of measure as individuals who have chronic pain may already have elevated stress responses due to this pain/stress, and therefore their responses may be less valid.

I was thinking about this and thought that yes this may be true, but if we are looking at response to VR in the context of a chemotherapy day unit, then their stress responses (due to pain or psych wellbeing) might be raised even further during this time anyway so we would still see a difference? "

So the question is, how can we differentiate the contributors to stress prior to the intervention?