Virtual reality relaxation for hospitals: A novel stress-reduction intervention for patients, families, and staff

Hospitals can be stressful environments for patients, families and staff. There are many wellbeing interventions to manage stress, but they can be difficult to implement in busy clinical environments. Novel solutions are needed to improve the hospital experience. Virtual reality (VR) interventions for relaxation, wellbeing and stress reduction involve users interacting with calming environments using a head-mounted display. Numerous studies in the general population and psychiatric settings suggest that VR relaxation is effective. Given these stress reduction outcomes within psychiatric hospitals, there is huge potential for general hospitals to implement VR. VR could be offered to patients who may be experiencing significant distress or perioperative anxiety, as well as to staff and families in waiting rooms. This is an exciting opportunity for patients, researchers, and clinicians with experience in VR therapies to guide general hospitals and make recommendations for clinical applications so that they can experience the benefits of VR relaxation.