[Virtual reality and palliative care, a complement in the care provision]

Area of Science:

• Medical Technology
• Palliative Care
• Digital Health

Background:

• Virtual reality (VR) technology, widely used in entertainment, is increasingly adopted in healthcare settings.
• Palliative care units aim to improve the quality of life for patients with life-limiting illnesses.
• Integrating novel technologies into patient care requires evaluation of their benefits and feasibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the benefits of virtual reality headsets as a complementary tool in palliative care.
• To gather feedback from a nursing team on the use of VR in a hospital setting.
• To explore the potential of VR in enhancing patient comfort and experience in end-of-life care.

Main Methods:

• A nursing team in Lyon implemented virtual reality headsets for patients in a palliative care unit.
• Qualitative feedback was collected from the nursing staff regarding their observations and experiences.
• The study focused on the VR tools as an adjunct to existing palliative care interventions.

Main Results:

• The nursing team reported positive experiences with the use of virtual reality headsets.
• VR was perceived as a beneficial complementary tool, enhancing patient care.
• The feedback suggests VR can positively impact the patient experience in palliative care.

Conclusions:

• Virtual reality headsets show promise as a valuable addition to palliative care.
• Further research is warranted to explore the full potential and implementation of VR in clinical settings.
• The integration of VR can support holistic patient care in specialized units.