Virtual reality: a distraction intervention for chemotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
To explore virtual reality (VR) as a distraction intervention to relieve symptom distress in adults receiving chemotherapy treatments for breast, colon, and lung cancer.


METHODS
Crossover design in which participants served as their own control.


METHODS
Outpatient clinic at a comprehensive cancer center in the southeastern United States.


METHODS
123 adults receiving initial chemotherapy treatments.


METHODS
Participants were randomly assigned to receive the VR distraction intervention during one chemotherapy treatment and then received no intervention (control) during an alternate matched chemotherapy treatment. The Adapted Symptom Distress Scale-2, Revised Piper Fatigue Scale, and State Anxiety Inventory were used to measure symptom distress. The Presence Questionnaire and an open-ended questionnaire were used to evaluate the subjects' VR experience. The influence of type of cancer, age, and gender on symptom outcomes was explored. Mixed models were used to test for differences in levels of symptom distress.


METHODS
Virtual reality and symptom distress.


RESULTS
Patients had an altered perception of time (p < 0.001) when using VR, which validates the distracting capacity of the intervention. Evaluation of the intervention indicated that patients believed the head-mounted device was easy to use, they experienced no cyber-sickness, and 82% would use VR again. However, analysis demonstrated no significant differences in symptom distress immediately or two days following chemotherapy treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients stated that using VR made the treatment seem shorter and that chemotherapy treatments with VR were better than treatments without the distraction intervention. However, positive experiences did not result in a decrease in symptom distress. The findings support the idea that using VR can help to make chemotherapy treatments more tolerable, but clinicians should not assume that use of VR will improve chemotherapy-related symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients found using VR during chemotherapy treatments to be enjoyable. VR is a feasible and cost-effective distraction intervention to implement in the clinical setting.
Schneider
Susan M
SM
Graduate Olcology Nursing Specialty, School of Nursing, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA. susan.schneider@duke.edu
Hood
Linda E
LE
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D014584:User-Computer Interface
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents