Patient-centered design requirements for a virtual reality supportive care system in lung cancer: a qualitative study

This study aimed to characterize lung cancer patients' preferences for virtual reality (VR) as a supportive care and educational tool, focusing on desired content, format, and delivery features.

We conducted a qualitative study with 20 lung cancer patients (≥18 years; diagnosed within the past three years; initiated treatment). Semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis with an iterative inductive-deductive approach. Themes were organized into three pre-specified domains relevant to intervention design: content, format, and delivery. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics.

Patients viewed VR as most valuable when it leveraged immersion to reduce anxiety and enhance engagement rather than replicating conventional education. Preferred content included tailored, diagnosis-specific education, treatment rationale and expectations, symptom and side-effect management, supportive and palliative care, and resource navigation, with optional peer content. Format preferences emphasized immersive, calming environments, audio-video delivery with minimal text, interactivity, and credible human presenters. Delivery preferences favored home use with optional clinic onboarding, short sessions (15-30 min), flexible frequency, and opt-in caregiver involvement.

These findings suggest that future lung cancer VR systems may benefit from flexible, modular, and patient-controlled designs that prioritize immersion, personalization, credibility, and autonomy. Prototype usability testing and feasibility studies are needed to evaluate how these patient-informed design requirements perform in clinical and home-based settings.