title: Virtual reality for palliative medicine.
abstract: The technology of virtual reality (VR) offers several advantages in the field of medicine because it enables us to practice medical procedures repeatedly, and can provide a variety of experiences by using virtual organs in different patients. It also aids in learning about a clinical procedure and facilitates objective evaluation by a supervisor. In the field of clinical oncology, a virtual environment can be useful for simulating surgery, diagnosing cancer invasion, obtaining informed consent or enhancing patient education, and for clinical communication using network-based VR. This technology can also be used to improve a patient's living conditions and to treat the psychological problems and/or stress of cancer patients. In the present chapter advanced VR research for palliative medicine at the National Cancer Center Hospital Japan is described and discussed.
authors.affiliation: Medical Virtual Reality Development Lab., National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oyama
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D003199:Computer Systems; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014584:User-Computer Interface