A Novel Palliative Care Approach Using Virtual Reality for Improving Various Symptoms of Terminal Cancer Patients: A Preliminary Prospective, Multicenter Study
A Novel Palliative Care Approach Using Virtual Reality for Improving Various Symptoms of Terminal Cancer Patients: A Preliminary Prospective, Multicenter Study
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DOI：
10.1089/jpm.2018.0527
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发表时间：
2019-06-01
影响因子：
2.8
通讯作者：
Uejima, Etsuko
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Niki, Kazuyuki;Okamoto, Yoshiaki;Uejima, Etsuko
背景：一些晚期癌症患者希望“去一个值得纪念的地方”或“回家”。“然而，由于各种症状负担和身体功能障碍，这些愿望对他们来说很难实现。目的：该研究的目的是验证使用虚拟现实（VR旅行）的模拟旅行是否能有效改善晚期癌症患者的症状。设计：这是一项前瞻性、多中心、单组研究。背景/受试者：从两个姑息治疗病房招募了20名晚期癌症参与者;数据收集于2017年11月至2018年4月。测量：使用VR软件Google Earth弗拉（R）。主要终点是VR旅行前后每种症状的埃德蒙顿症状评估系统评分的变化。结果：参与者的平均年龄为72.3岁（标准差[SD] = 11.9）。观察到疼痛显著改善（2.35，SD = 2.25 vs. 1.15，SD = 2.03，p = 0.005），疲劳（2.90，SD = 2.71 vs. 1.35，SD = 1.90，p = 0.004），嗜睡（2.70，SD = 2.87 vs. 1.35，SD = 2.30，p = 0.012），呼吸短促（1.74，SD = 2.73对比0.35，SD = 0.99，p = 0.022），抑郁（2.45，SD = 2.63 vs. 0.40，SD = 0.82，p = 0.001），焦虑（2.60，SD = 2.64 vs. 0.80，SD = 1.51，p < 0.001）和幸福感（4.50，SD = 2.78 vs. 2.20，SD = 1.99，p < 0.001;分别为VR旅行评分前与后）。没有参与者抱怨严重的副作用。结论：这项初步研究表明，VR旅行对晚期癌症患者改善症状负担是有效和安全的。
Background: Some terminal cancer patients wish to "go to a memorable place" or "return home." However, owing to various symptom burdens and physical dysfunction, these wishes are difficult for them to realize. Objective: The aim of the study is to verify whether simulated travel using virtual reality (VR travel) is efficacious in improving symptoms in terminal cancer patients. Design: This is a prospective, multicenter, single-arm study. Setting/Subjects: Twenty participants with terminal cancer were recruited from two palliative care wards; data were collected from November 2017 to April 2018. Measurements: The VR software Google Earth VRA (R) was used. The primary endpoint was the change in the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System scores for each symptom before and after VR travel. Results: The average age of the participants was 72.3 (standard deviation [SD] = 11.9) years. Significant improvements were observed for pain (2.35, SD = 2.25 vs. 1.15, SD = 2.03, p = 0.005), tiredness (2.90, SD = 2.71 vs. 1.35, SD = 1.90, p = 0.004), drowsiness (2.70, SD = 2.87 vs. 1.35, SD = 2.30, p = 0.012), shortness of breath (1.74, SD = 2.73 vs. 0.35, SD = 0.99, p = 0.022), depression (2.45, SD = 2.63 vs. 0.40, SD = 0.82, p = 0.001), anxiety (2.60, SD = 2.64 vs. 0.80, SD = 1.51, p < 0.001), and well-being (4.50, SD = 2.78 vs. 2.20, SD = 1.99, p < 0.001; pre- vs. post-VR travel score, respectively). No participants complained of serious side effects. Conclusions: This preliminary study suggests that VR travel can be efficacious and safe for terminal cancer patients for improving symptom burden.