Medical procedures-higher adherence and lower anxiety with VR
Medical procedures-higher adherence and lower anxiety with VR
We continue to explore the impact of VR on anxiety and fear related to medical procedures. Over the last five years, many of our health system customers and partners have completed many studies around the interaction of VR, anxiety and medical procedures. One such partner is currently studying the use of AVC prior to gynecological procedures, blood draws and gastrological interventions.
In one study, the University of Barcelona & Vall D’Hebrón Hospital have come together to define a VR exposure-based therapy to alleviate anxiety and reduce anticipatory fear of pain in pediatric and adult patients during medical procedures performed in the palliative care unit. This study proposes a psychological therapeutic approach to improve adherence and facilitate the completion of medical tests. Results show that when VR is utilized, patients report reduced anxiety by 20%. Furthermore, those individuals who utilized VR during chemotherapy treatment, had greater treatment adherence than those who did not utilize VR, and in fact attended 100% of chemotherapy appointments.
Torres Garcia, A., Arguilès Huguet, M., Royo Pozo, J., Morgenstren Isaac, A., & Ramos Quiroga, J. A. (2019, October). Cuando la RV nos permite alejarnos del dolor en cuidados paliativos pediátricos y adultos. Poster at XIII Jornadas Internacionales SECPAL, Santiago de Compostela (Spain).
Torres García, A., & Royo Pozo, J. (2020, September). Disminución de la percepción de la ansiedad y del dolor en procedimientos médicos mediante realidad virtual en cuidados paliativos pediátricos. Poster at IV Congreso PEDPAL, Madrid.
What is Exposure Therapy?
Exposure therapy is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy in which your therapist creates a safe environment to expose you to your fears. Fears may be things, situations and/or activities.
When we’re afraid of something, we tend to avoid the objects, activities or situations related to it. While this can help manage panic in the short term, over time, it can make our fears worse. In addition, avoiding certain places, situations and activities can interfere with your quality of life.
Exposure therapy helps show you that you’re capable of confronting your fears. You’ll learn to attach new, more realistic beliefs to the things you’re afraid of. You’ll become more comfortable with the experience of fear.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/25067-exposure-therapy
