TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of virtual reality v. biophilic environments on pain and distress in oncology patients
T2 - a case-crossover pilot study
AU - Ashley Verzwyvelt, L.
AU - McNamara, Ann
AU - Xu, Xiaohui
AU - Stubbins, Renee
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by The Center for Health and Nature, a collaboration between Houston Methodist Hospital, Texan by Nature, and Texas A&M University.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).
PY - 2021/10/12
Y1 - 2021/10/12
N2 - This pilot study aimed to determine if a biophilic Green Therapy or Virtual Reality environment can decrease an oncology patient’s pain and distress while receiving chemotherapy. A case-crossover pilot study was conducted in a comprehensive cancer infusion center. 33 participants with breast, gynecologic, gastrointestinal, pancreatic and prostate cancers were all included in three rooms in a random order at different cycles: control room, Green Therapy room, and Virtual Reality room to receive chemotherapy, respectively. Participants’ pain, distress, heart rate, blood pressure, and saliva cortisol were measured before and after infusion in each room. No statistical significance differences were shown in the changes of heart rate, systolic, or diastolic blood pressure, saliva cortisol, pain, or distress before and after infusion between the control, Green Therapy, and Virtual Reality rooms. However, more patients reported the experience as “fun” and “enjoyable” when they were in Green Therapy or Virtual reality room as compared to in the control room. Additionally, since participating in the study, 14 patients reported spending at least 30 min or more outside in nature. In this study, we found that patients’ heart rate, blood pressure, and self-reported distress levels were reduced after each biophilic intervention although results are not statistically significant. The study also suggested that biophilic interventions are safe and feasible and may complement the standard of care for oncology patients.
AB - This pilot study aimed to determine if a biophilic Green Therapy or Virtual Reality environment can decrease an oncology patient’s pain and distress while receiving chemotherapy. A case-crossover pilot study was conducted in a comprehensive cancer infusion center. 33 participants with breast, gynecologic, gastrointestinal, pancreatic and prostate cancers were all included in three rooms in a random order at different cycles: control room, Green Therapy room, and Virtual Reality room to receive chemotherapy, respectively. Participants’ pain, distress, heart rate, blood pressure, and saliva cortisol were measured before and after infusion in each room. No statistical significance differences were shown in the changes of heart rate, systolic, or diastolic blood pressure, saliva cortisol, pain, or distress before and after infusion between the control, Green Therapy, and Virtual Reality rooms. However, more patients reported the experience as “fun” and “enjoyable” when they were in Green Therapy or Virtual reality room as compared to in the control room. Additionally, since participating in the study, 14 patients reported spending at least 30 min or more outside in nature. In this study, we found that patients’ heart rate, blood pressure, and self-reported distress levels were reduced after each biophilic intervention although results are not statistically significant. The study also suggested that biophilic interventions are safe and feasible and may complement the standard of care for oncology patients.
KW - Adult
KW - Aged
KW - Aged, 80 and over
KW - Anxiety/etiology
KW - Cancer Pain/psychology
KW - Cross-Over Studies
KW - Drug Therapy
KW - Facility Design and Construction/methods
KW - Feasibility Studies
KW - Female
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Neoplasm Staging
KW - Neoplasms/drug therapy
KW - Pain Measurement
KW - Pilot Projects
KW - Virtual Reality
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85117405487&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85117405487&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/s41598-021-99763-2
DO - 10.1038/s41598-021-99763-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 34642416
AN - SCOPUS:85117405487
VL - 11
SP - 20196
JO - Scientific Reports
JF - Scientific Reports
IS - 1
M1 - 20196
ER -