Experiences of Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy With Virtual Reality: Mixed Methods Feasibility Study

Anna Janssen; Jennifer Fletcher; Melanie Keep; Naseem Ahmadpour; Anika Rouf; Michael Marthick; Rebecca Booth

doi:10.2196/29579

Experiences of Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy With Virtual Reality: Mixed Methods Feasibility Study

JMIR Serious Games. 2022 Feb 21;10(1):e29579. doi: 10.2196/29579.

Authors

Anna Janssen^#¹, Jennifer Fletcher², Melanie Keep³, Naseem Ahmadpour⁴, Anika Rouf⁵, Michael Marthick⁶, Rebecca Booth⁷

Affiliations

¹ Research in Implementation Science and eHealth Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
² Education Enterprise and Engagement, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
³ Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
⁴ School of Architecture, Design and Planning, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
⁵ Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
⁶ Valion Health, Sydney, Australia.
⁷ Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, Australia.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 35188474
PMCID: PMC8902671
DOI: 10.2196/29579

Abstract

Background: Current research into virtual reality (VR) use during chemotherapy shows that it can be an effective distraction intervention. However, there is limited research in adult patients and to investigate how VR can be sustainably implemented in health care organizations.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility and acceptability of using VR for adult patients undergoing chemotherapy, and to identify the factors that would enable the sustained use of VR during chemotherapy in health care organizations.

Methods: Patients undergoing chemotherapy were recruited to participate in a VR intervention during chemotherapy infusion. Participants were observed during the session and completed a postintervention survey. Each participant was invited to participate in a semistructured interview about their experience.

Results: A total of 18 patients participated in the study, 5 of whom participated in semistructured interviews. Findings indicated that the use of VR was acceptable for patients undergoing chemotherapy and the intervention was also feasible. Some participants felt that the VR was an effective distraction during chemotherapy infusion, although most still seemed to be aware of how long their treatment was taking. Although VR was acceptable and feasible to patients, interviews identified several barriers to sustained implementation, including access to a reliable app library and impact on staff workloads.

Conclusions: VR was acceptable to patients with a diagnosis of cancer undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Patients found VR beneficial for breaking up the monotony of treatment, to provide an additional choice of activity in addition to other recreation, and in some instances as a distraction from the treatment itself. However, there are challenges to address if VR is to be implemented in practice for this patient group.

Keywords: cancer; chemotherapy; digital health; eHealth; mixed methods research; serious games; treatment; virtual health; virtual reality.

©Anna Janssen, Jennifer Fletcher, Melanie Keep, Naseem Ahmadpour, Anika Rouf, Michael Marthick, Rebecca Booth. Originally published in JMIR Serious Games (https://games.jmir.org), 21.02.2022.