Shauna Higgins1,2, Shera Feinstein1, Makenzie Hawkins3, Myles Cockburn1,3,4,5, Ashley Wysong1,2. 1. Department of Dermatology, Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California. 2. Department of Dermatology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska. 3. Cancer Prevention and Control Program, University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado. 4. Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado. 5. Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Nonmelanoma skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States with significant quality of life impact. OBJECTIVE: To assess the utility of a highly immersive virtual reality (VR) experience in the context of outpatient skin cancer surgery as a means to minimize patient-reported feelings of anxiety or pain. The authors also sought to assess the effects on patient-reported overall satisfaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients completed a pre-VR experience survey after completion of their first Mohs surgery layer, followed by a 10-minute VR experience, and a post-VR experience survey. Differences in the pre-VR survey and post-VR survey were compared using the chi-square test. The anxiety scores were compared using a t-test. RESULTS: In all but 2 questions, there was a trend toward improvement of the anxiety-related sensations after completion of the VR experience. There were statistically significant differences for 4 questions: "Are you currently feeling unable to relax" (p = .0013), "are you currently feeling fear of the worst happening" (p < .0001), "are you currently feeling terrified or afraid" (p = .0046), and "are you currently feeling nervous" (p < .0001). CONCLUSION: Virtual reality experiences during the Mohs surgical day significantly improved measures of anxiety and patient satisfaction.
BACKGROUND:Nonmelanoma skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States with significant quality of life impact. OBJECTIVE: To assess the utility of a highly immersive virtual reality (VR) experience in the context of outpatientskin cancer surgery as a means to minimize patient-reported feelings of anxiety or pain. The authors also sought to assess the effects on patient-reported overall satisfaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Patients completed a pre-VR experience survey after completion of their first Mohs surgery layer, followed by a 10-minute VR experience, and a post-VR experience survey. Differences in the pre-VR survey and post-VR survey were compared using the chi-square test. The anxiety scores were compared using a t-test. RESULTS: In all but 2 questions, there was a trend toward improvement of the anxiety-related sensations after completion of the VR experience. There were statistically significant differences for 4 questions: "Are you currently feeling unable to relax" (p = .0013), "are you currently feeling fear of the worst happening" (p < .0001), "are you currently feeling terrified or afraid" (p = .0046), and "are you currently feeling nervous" (p < .0001). CONCLUSION: Virtual reality experiences during the Mohs surgical day significantly improved measures of anxiety and patient satisfaction.
Authors: Caitlin Horsham; Ken Dutton-Regester; Jodie Antrobus; Andrew Goldston; Harley Price; Helen Ford; Elke Hacker Journal: JMIR Serious Games Date: 2021-03-25 Impact factor: 4.143