VR interventions offer benefits to patients with cancer

Editor's Note

Virtual reality (VR) appears to ease the pain and distress felt by patients with cancer, according to a new study published in BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care.

Researchers looked at 31 relevant studies published between 1993 and 2023 in which VR technology was used to help patients, including 16 with cancer, 5 with dementia and 4 with cardiovascular disease.

The studies ranged in size from 30 to 50 participants, with an average age of 51. Three quarters of the participants were women. 

The average VR session lasted 20 minutes and included environment-based and game-based immersive VR interventions. 

Patients reported a positive response. The VR served to help them relax and cope with treatments and the emotional impact of their condition, suggesting that VR can offer a non-pharmacological intervention as well as cost savings benefits.

The researchers hope that VR technology can be more widely applied to treatments for those with difficult long-term conditions including multiple sclerosis (MS), kidney disease, and dementia.