Co-Design and Development of a Virtual Reality Experience for Teenagers and Young Adults with Cancer

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Project AimsThis project aims to investigate the potential use of virtual reality (VR) in assisting teenagers and young adults with cancer. This research will take a co-design approach where teenagers and young people with cancer will help researchers design a virtual reality intervention to assist in a specific part of the cancer pathway. Along with this, the project will involve engaging with clinicians and stakeholders from Great Ormond Street Hospital to help provide insight into the current challenges hindering the development and deployment of VR technologies within the NHS.Background and MotivationVR has shown great success in surgical training, rehabilitation, exposure therapy and as a distraction mechanism [1]. VR can simulate interactive 3D environments that immerse users in real-time with evidence demonstrating that the users physical, cognitive and behavioural states within VR are comparable to that in real life [2]. In recent years, researchers have implemented VR during different phases of cancer treatment [3]. VR has been used as an escapism for hospitalised patients and for people undergoing chemotherapy, showing success in lowering cancer-related symptoms such as anxiety, fatigue and depression [4]. Studies have also investigated the effects of using virtual reality as a distraction mechanism during painful or long procedures [3, 5]. Whilst many of the studies have explored the use of VR in assisting people with cancer throughout treatment, most of the interventions delivered are theory-driven and are not designed with the end user in mind. The interventions take a generalised approach and make sweeping judgments about people undergoing cancer treatment, a method which has shown to negatively affect psycho-oncological treatments [7]. There is mounting evidence, mostly from the Human Computer Interaction field, recommending that service users and stakeholders be included in the design and development process of health interventions. This ensures that products are fit for purpose, useful and ultimately empower the service users. This project therefore aims to advance current research into the use of virtual reality interventions for teenagers and young people with cancer through co-design. We are keen to investigate uses of virtual reality that go beyond distraction interventions and explore applications that may offer clinical benefit to people with cancer. The co-design approach will involve actively engaging and designing with young people from the Teenage Cancer Trust in design workshops and focus group sessions. This will help identify if and where virtual reality could be of benefit and ensure that the application developed reflects the needs of the intended service users. By involving patients, clinicians and stakeholders across multipleNHS facilities, the project will benefit from a diverse and holistic view of the cancer clinical pathway. Project StructureThe research project will be divided into three key phases: Phase 1 - Identify key intervention areas (desk research and stakeholder interviews)Phase 2 - Iterative co-design workshops with young people with cancer.Phase 3 - VR experience development and evaluation.