Virtual Reality: A Distraction Intervention for Chemotherapy
Open accessAbstract
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To explore virtual reality (VR) as a distraction intervention to relieve symptom distress in adults receiving chemotherapy treatments for breast, colon, and lung cancer. DESIGN: Crossover design in which participants served as their own control. SETTING: Outpatient clinic at a comprehensive cancer center in the southeastern United States. SAMPLE: 123 adults receiving initial chemotherapy treatments. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to receive the VR distraction intervention during one chemotherapy treatment and then received no intervention (control) during an alternate matched chemotherapy treatment. The Adapted Symptom Distress Scale-2, Revised Piper Fatigue Scale, and State Anxiety Inventory were used to measure symptom distress. The Presence Questionnaire and an open-ended questionnaire were used to evaluate the subjects' VR experience. The influence of type of cancer, age, and gender on symptom outcomes was explored. Mixed models were used to test for differences in levels of symptom distress. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Virtual reality and symptom distress. FINDINGS: Patients had an altered perception of time (p < 0.001) when using VR, which validates the distracting capacity of the intervention. Evaluation of the intervention indicated that patients believed the head-mounted device was easy to use, they experienced no cyber-sickness, and 82% would use VR again. However, analysis demonstrated no significant differences in symptom distress immediately or two days following chemotherapy treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Patients stated that using VR made the treatment seem shorter and that chemotherapy treatments with VR were better than treatments without the distraction intervention. However, positive experiences did not result in a decrease in symptom distress. The findings support the idea that using VR can help to make chemotherapy treatments more tolerable, but clinicians should not assume that use of VR will improve chemotherapy-related symptoms. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Patients found using VR during chemotherapy treatments to be enjoyable. VR is a feasible and cost-effective distraction intervention to implement in the clinical setting.
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Research has highlighted benefits in chemotherapy populations in particular, with reduction of fatigue, anxiety, symptom distress and perception of time.
“Research17–19 has highlighted benefits in chemotherapy populations in particular, with reduction of fatigue, anxiety, symptom distress and perception of time.”
From SafeSpace: what is the feasibility and acceptability of a codesigned virtual reality intervention, incorporating compassionate mind training, to support people undergoing cancer treatment in a clinical setting? (2022) · cites this paper as [19]
The Background reports earlier chemotherapy VR studies with reduced fatigue, anxiety, and symptom distress, and altered time perception. But this paper’s own Findings report no significant difference in symptom distress, and its Conclusions caution against assuming VR improves chemotherapy-related symptoms. The claim captures the earlier research it discusses but overstates what this study found. (LLM, conf=0.87)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIt was found to be acceptable and safe to use across several settings including inpatient, outpatient and day care.
“Also consistent, it was found to be acceptable and safe to use across several settings including inpatient, outpatient and day care.17–19 65–67”
From SafeSpace: what is the feasibility and acceptability of a codesigned virtual reality intervention, incorporating compassionate mind training, to support people undergoing cancer treatment in a clinical setting? (2022) · cites this paper as [19]
The Discussion (page not provided) says VR was well accepted by patients and appeared safe, with no unusual symptoms reported. The Methods identify an outpatient clinic, while the Discussion notes a single study site. This paper does not establish acceptability or safety across inpatient and day-care settings. (LLM, conf=0.89)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
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- Authors
- Schneider, S. M., & Hood, L. E.
- Affiliations
- Duke University (US)
- ORCID
- Schneider, Susan M.
- Venue
- Oncology Nursing Forum
- Publisher
- Oncology Nursing Society (ONS)
- Published
- 2007-01-01
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 39-46
- ISSN
- 0190-535X (ISSN-L)
- 1538-0688
- PMC
- PMC2121303
- OpenAlex
- W2086042012
- Cited by
- 189
- References
- 55
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 1.85
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Oncology nursing forum (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Nursing Research (P20NR007795)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Pediatric Pain Management Techniques
- Keywords
- virtual reality, chemotherapy, symptom distress, fatigue, anxiety, breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, head-mounted devices, cybersickness, treatment tolerability, time perception
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Aged, Antineoplastic Agents, Breast Neoplasms, Colonic Neoplasms, Female, Humans, Lung Neoplasms, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Therapy, Computer-Assisted, User-Computer Interface
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