The Multidomain Metaverse Cancer Care Digital Platform: Development and Usability Study

Sunghak Kim; Timothy Jung; Dae Kyung Sohn; Yoon Chae; Young Ae Kim; Seung Hyun Kang; Yujin Park; Yoon Jung Chang

doi:10.2196/46242

The Multidomain Metaverse Cancer Care Digital Platform: Development and Usability Study

JMIR Serious Games. 2023 Nov 30:11:e46242. doi: 10.2196/46242.

Authors

Sunghak Kim¹, Timothy Jung², Dae Kyung Sohn³, Yoon Chae¹, Young Ae Kim⁴, Seung Hyun Kang⁵, Yujin Park¹, Yoon Jung Chang¹

Affiliations

¹ Division of Cancer Control and Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea.
² Faculty of Business and Law, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom.
³ Center for Colorectal Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea.
⁴ National Cancer Survivorship Center, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea.
⁵ Planning Division, Korea Smart Healthcare Association, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

PMID: 38032697
PMCID: PMC10722376
DOI: 10.2196/46242

Abstract

Background: As cancer treatment methods have diversified and the importance of self-management, which lowers the dependence rate on direct hospital visits, has increased, effective cancer care education and management for health professionals and patients have become necessary. The metaverse is in the spotlight as a means of digital health that allows users to engage in cancer care education and management beyond physical constraints. However, it is difficult to find a multipurpose medical metaverse that can not only be used in the field but also complements current cancer care.

Objective: This study aimed to develop an integrated metaverse cancer care platform, Dr. Meta, and examine its usability.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, cross-sectional survey between November and December 2021. A descriptive analysis was performed to examine users' experiences with Dr. Meta. In addition, a supplementary open-ended question was used to ask users for their suggestions and improvements regarding the platform.

Results: Responses from 70 Korean participants (male: n=19, 27% and female: n=51, 73%) were analyzed. More than half (n=37, 54%) of the participants were satisfied with Dr. Meta; they responded that it was an interesting and immersive platform (n=50, 72%). Less than half perceived no discomfort when using Dr. Meta (n=34, 49%) and no difficulty in wearing and operating the device (n=30, 43%). Furthermore, more than half (n=50, 72%) of the participants reported that Dr. Meta would help provide non-face-to-face and noncontact services. More than half also wanted to continue using this platform in the future (n=41, 59%) and recommended it to others (n=42, 60%).

Conclusions: We developed a multidomain metaverse cancer care platform that can support both health professionals and patients in non-face-to-face cancer care. The platform was uniquely disseminated and implemented in multiple regional hospitals and showed the potential to perform successful cancer care.

Keywords: cancer care; cancer education; cancer treatment; cross-sectional survey; digital health; digital health intervention; metaverse; patient care; virtual reality.

©Sunghak Kim, Timothy Jung, Dae Kyung Sohn, Yoon Chae, Young Ae Kim, Seung Hyun Kang, Yujin Park, Yoon Jung Chang. Originally published in JMIR Serious Games (https://games.jmir.org), 30.11.2023.