Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Research and Innovations (new projects / technology / innovations / service models)
Proposed Topic (Second preferred): :
HA Young Investigators Session (Projects to be presented by HA staff who had joined HA for 10 years or less)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Lai HW(1), Yeung PS(1), Lui NF(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Occupational Therapy Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Introduction :
Virtual Reality grants users an immersive experience of exploring the preferable scenario. Previous research has proven that immersive VR session is favourable for patients to gain the capacity for creating new experiences, at the same time to reconnect with the past memories, and to forget the present discomfort.
When Palliative Care (PC) patient admitted to hospital, they are experiencing and suffering from various unpleasant symptoms associating with their chronic and serious advanced illness, they will also develop sense of helplessness and loneliness as of unfamiliarised environment. Furthermore, due to actual physical limitations that they are facing, this hinders their ability in travelling to places that they long wanted to, and to pursue a better quality of life. Virtual Reality (VR) can place patients into environments that they wish to travel to without limitation of time and space. Through providing another environment apart from the ward area that they are in, VR at the same time can distract patient from their current discomfort and distress, which acts as a symptom relieving intervention. In this paper, we would like to introduce the application of VR in patients with palliative care by occupational therapist.
Objectives :
The application aims at relieving pain symptoms and improving well-being of patients who are under palliative care in Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Methodology :
Virtual Reality sessions will be provided during in-patient care to PC patients with pain. Occupational Therapist will carry out a brief screening initially to ensure patient’s mental state is fit and current medical condition is stable. A simple interview will be conducted to build up rapport and be more familiar with patient’s social history so that therapist may know their interest or focus when implementing VR. When design, various relaxing scenarios will be filmed with 360-degree camera and uploaded to the VR system by occupational therapist. When implementing the VR session, every patient will receive their own VR headset, and place themselves in individualized desire scenarios chosen by patient themselves. Occupational therapist will be aside patient all along to ensure safety and reduce discomfort during sessions.
Result & Outcome :
In September 2023, 2 patients under palliative care in oncology ward were selected and tried the VR sessions. Both patients suffered from terminal illness and had dependent functional status. Individualized Immersive Two VR sessions were provided for each patient. Each session lasted for around 10 minutes, with both patients are being placed in the scenario they would love to visit.
Both patients reported novel experience in trying VR sessions in ward area. They are engaged in whole session, without any dizziness or discomfort when using the VR system. They experienced in a reduction of stress level and also slightly relieved in pain symptom. Both of them would like to have further trial after the sessions.
Application of immersive VR is feasible for patients who are less mobile and require intensive bedside care. In our experience, the patients can relieve pain symptoms and enjoy the desirable scene as they wish though they are hospitalized. Future exploration on the effects on their anxiety and depression symptoms, pain control and their satisfaction towards experience of VR sessions can be conducted with more patient participation.
