VR in Medical Field

Recent years have witnessed a remarkable increase in the interest and usage of virtual reality (VR) technology in the medical field. From medical training and learning to patient care, and in some cases to the extent of delivering therapies, VR has started to demonstrate its effectiveness. This has opened up new areas of development and possibilities, as we shall discuss below.

VR-Based Medical Training
Of significant interest is the idea of using VR technology for medical training. By providing simulated environments where trainers and trainees can interact realistically, VR-based hands-on experiences have revolutionized training and skills. From learning anatomy to practicing surgical procedures, VR-based simulations are proving extremely useful since they offer a safe space for learners to develop their skills. The most prominent benefit: learners can now hone these skills without putting any patient at risk.

Additionally, since VR-based learning provides an immersive experience, engagement and retention are thereby enhancing the preparedness for real-life scenarios (Pottle, 2019).

Pain Management using VR
VR technology is also revolutionizing pain management, mental health treatments, and rehabilitation.

VR is helping to alleviate the anxiety of patients who plan to undergo painful procedures like dental surgeries. The concept of ‘exposure therapy,’ which assists patients in confronting fear-inducing stimuli under guided VR exposures, is coupled with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), an approach that helps patients overcome their fears. (Donnelly et al., 2021)

Likewise, patients can be immersed in calming VR environments to reduce their pain medication needs and to improve the overall patient experience.

Virtual reality analgesia is slowly becoming a common concept, and some studies have even suggested it to be useful in emergency department (ED) settings (Birrenbach et al., 2022).

VR and Mental Health Disorders
Management of mental health disorders is also undergoing change as more and more evidence regarding the usefulness of VR emerges. Anxiety disorders, PTSD, and phobias can all have better outcomes if VR is used by therapists to provide controlled exposures to patients. The possibility of providing customized scenarios and gradually increasing exposure levels makes VR an excellent intervention tool for mental health therapies.

References

Birrenbach, T., Bühlmann, F., Exadaktylos, A.K., Hautz, W.E., Müller, M., and Sauter, T.C., 2022. Virtual Reality for Pain Relief in the Emergency Room (VIPER)—a prospective, interventional feasibility study. BMC emergency medicine, 22(1), p. 113.

Donnelly, M.R., Reinberg, R., Ito, K.L., Saldana, D., Neureither, M., Schmiesing, A., Jahng, E., and Liew, S.L., 2021. Virtual reality for the treatment of anxiety disorders: A scoping review. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(6).

Pottle, J., 2019. Virtual reality and the transformation of medical education. Future healthcare journal, 6(3), p. 181.