Nature-Based Virtual Reality: A Scoping Review of Cancer Care

Patients with cancer and their friend/family caregivers experience emotional strain across the cancer trajectory, from diagnosis and curative treatment to palliative care. Thus, there is a need for therapies that can support emotional health and well-being. Given the emotional health benefits from nature exposure, nature-based virtual reality (VR) may hold promise.

We aimed to examine and synthesize the literature on nature-based virtual reality to improve emotional support and well-being among patients with cancer and their caregivers.

We conducted a scoping review, searching 6 databases. The initial search focused on caregiving, cancer, nature, and VR. After very limited results, a broader search was constructed focusing on cancer, nature, and virtual reality. Screening criteria included cancer caregiving, nature-based VR, well-being, and emotional outcomes. Eligible articles included patients with cancer, cancer caregivers, and nature-based VR interventions.

Following screening, 35 articles were included: 24 implementing immersive nature-based VR with adult patients with cancer, 1 with only caregivers, 10 involved children and were a mix (3 with caregiver-child dyads; 7 children only). Most studies were conducted during clinic procedures, often with the caregiver present and/or participating. Improvements in emotional health and/or well-being were reported in the majority of studies. Overall, the quality of included studies was low.

Nature-based VR has the potential to promote improvement in emotional health and well-being for patients with cancer; however, studies of higher quality are needed. Further, there is a gap in the science regarding the use of nature-based VR for emotional support among caregivers.