Co-construction of a Canadian virtual reality technology to manage pain and anxiety in palliative care units in the province of Quebec

Abstract

Purpose Studies have demonstrated the usability, feasibility, and acceptability of virtual reality in palliative care (Martin et al., 2022). Virtual reality has proven efficacy with positive effects in the reduction of pain, tiredness, drowsiness, shortness of breath, depression, and improvement in psychological well-being (Mo et al., 2023; Moloney et al., 2023). This consultation process aims to conduct the first iteration of a virtual reality technology to be tested in palliative care. The intervention called “Come with me" uses high-quality 360-degree (5K) video content and ambisonic sound developed by a Canadian start-up in Montreal, Quebec (Nipper Media). Method The virtual reality intervention “Come with me" consists of a ten-minute session in which participants use a virtual reality headset to visit a pre-established passive scenario (e.g., beach, city). A steering committee formed by healthcare professionals working in palliative care, volunteers of a palliative care foundation, graduate students in psychology, and researchers tested the virtual reality technology “Come with me" (n = 7). Following the test, participants expressed their opinions regarding different aspects of its potential use in the context of palliative care (e.g., duration, content, appropriateness for palliative care). Results and Discussion Most participants expressed having experienced feelings of relaxation after having tested this virtual reality technology (71%), indicating a positive perception following the experience. However, a person reported dizziness during a visual transition. The volume and quality of the sound were judged as excellent (29%) or good (57%). Most participants found the duration of the experience to be adequate for palliative care. The majority also considered the equipment comfortable for individuals in palliative care (86%). Participants expressed a preference for less music or narration during the intervention according to the individual needs of the person in palliative care (29%). They also recommended favoring both the exploration of public places and nature (86%), with 71% expressing the desire to visit places outside the province of Quebec, Canada. In addition, they highlight the importance of being able to adapt the intervention to the needs of the person in palliative care. Finally, 37% recommended individual sessions, 63% suggested including a significant other simultaneously and 25% mentioned the possibility of including several significant others at the same time. The preliminary results of this consultation process suggest that this virtual reality technology is judged as being positive and suitable for individuals in palliative care. These results will guide the necessary adjustments to optimize this virtual reality technology to the specific needs of this population. Additional consultation sessions will be conducted to adjust and refine the current prototype using an iterative process of cross-validation and co-construction. 

References

Martin, J. L., Saredakis, D., Hutchinson, A. D., Crawford, G. B., & Loetscher, T. (2022). Virtual reality in palliative care: A systematic review. Healthcare, 10(7), 1222. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10071222 

Mo, J., Vickerstaff, V., Minton, O., Tavabie, S., Taubert, M., Stone, P., & White, N. (2022). How effective is virtual reality technology in palliative care? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Palliative Medicine, 36(7), 1047–1058. https://doi.org/10.1177/02692163221099584

Moloney, M., Doody, O., O'Reilly, M., Lucey, M., Callinan, J., Exton, C., Colreavy, S., O'Mahony, F., Meskell, P., & Coffey, A. (2023). Virtual reality use and patient outcomes in palliative care: A scoping review. Digital Health, 9, 20552076231207574. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076231207574

Keywords: Gerontechnology, AgeTech, Palliative care, Virtual reality, End-of-life, Family Caregivers, Older adult, Aging.

Affiliation: ¹Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada ; ²Centre de recherche de l’institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; ³Notre-Dame Hospital, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal (CCSMTL), Montreal, Quebec, Canada; ⁴Université Côte d’Azur.

Corresponding Author Email: jhon.alexander.moreno.1@umontreal.ca; Authors’ ORCID iDs: 0000-0003-3651-3222

Acknowledgement With financial assistance provided by the Gouvernement du Québec (Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie in Quebec, Canada) and Inven_T (Université de Montréal).