Shannen van der Kruk|Kate M. Gunn|Hamish G. MacDougall|Donna Milne|K. Sabina Smith|Robert Zielinski
Feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of virtual reality as a patient education tool for people with cancer undergoing immunotherapy: a protocol for a randomised controlled pilot study in a regional setting
University of South Australia|University of South Australia|Sydney Local Health District|Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre|Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals|University of Sydney|Western NSW Local Health District|Western Sydney University
patient education critical component healthcare delivery however medical information knowledge complex difficult patients families comprehend delivered verbally use virtual reality vr convey medical information patients may bridge communication gap lead effective patient education may increased value low health literacy levels patient activation rural regional settings objective randomised singlecentre pilot study examine feasibility preliminary effectiveness vr education tool people cancer results provide data inform feasibility future randomised controlled trial including sample size calculationspatients cancer undergoing immunotherapy recruited total 36 patients recruited randomised one three trial arms participants randomised 111 receive vr twodimensional video standard care ie verbal communication information leaflets feasibility assessed recruitment rate practicality acceptability usability related adverse events potential impact vr patientreported outcomes ie perceived information provision quality knowledge immunotherapy patient activation assessed stratified information coping style ie monitors vs blunters whenever statistical analyses significant patientreported outcomes measured baseline postintervention 2 weeks postintervention addition semistructured interviews conducted health professionals participants randomised vr trial arm explore acceptability feasibilityethics approval obtained greater western human research ethics committee new south wales local health district 2022eth01760 informed consent obtained participants findings disseminated via relevant conference presentations publications peerreviewed journalsactrn12622001473752