While many cancer centers suggest treating pain with medication and nondrug treatment, few include the use of virtual reality (VR) as an alternative for stress and pain relief therapy. The purpose of this research was to determine whether a nature-inspired VR simulation reduced stress and pain levels among patients in a cancer treatment center. Using a repeated measures design, 50 patients attending their regularly scheduled chemotherapy infusion were measured for pain and stress during their intravenous (IV)/port access. At the patient’s second visit, they viewed a nature-inspired VR simulation while receiving their IV/port access and were measured for pain and stress again. The paired, one-tailed t tests found significant increases in relaxation, feelings of peace, and positive distractions. While patients felt significantly less frustrated, measures for stress and pain were not significant. Future research should include additional stress and pain measures to determine the viability of VR for chemotherapy infusions.

Aging in place (AIP) in one's existing residence is a more affordable housing alternative than long‐term care and is desired by the majority of those aged 50–80. Considerable residential upgrades are required to accommodate the physical and mental effects of aging; however, U.S. housing is severely lacking in assistive devices required to respond to those needs. While research suggests that assistive device implementation can delay long‐term institutionalization, baby boomer stigma and lack of knowledge may have an impact on why so few AIP upgrades have occurred. Using design thinking strategies, we explored baby boomer knowledge and stigma toward the term AIP and residential assistive devices. A secondary purpose was to expose baby boomers to an AIP checklist to determine if the checklist would influence participant knowledge and stigma. Fifteen baby boomers (n = 15) participated in the study, and less than half expressed (n = 7) familiarity with the term AIP. Participants used alternate phrases such as “avoiding the nursing home”; or “doing things to stay independent.” Most participants did not associate stigma toward the term AIP; yet, their knowledge of AIP devices was minimal until exposed to the AIP checklist. After exposure to the checklist, participants were significantly more familiar with the term AIP and significantly more likely to think standard products could be considered as AIP residential assistive devices. In this study, we also used participant created prototypes to understand the means by which baby boomers would like to gain knowledge on AIP upgrades.

Worldwide, 14 million people were diagnosed with cancer, and 8.8 million victims of cancer died in 2015 (Cancer, 2017). There is no doubt that cancer is a traumatic experience. Using design‐thinking strategies, the purpose of this qualitative study was to examine if the built environment in cancer care facilities influences anxiety in patients and to generate patient‐driven solutions to reduce stress. Due to its human‐centered and codesign emphasis, design thinking is uniquely qualified to explore cancer treatment facility design. Yet, little research using a design‐thinking approach examines how the built environment influences stress among patients in an oncology unit. Eight stakeholders (n = 8), including cancer survivors, patients, caregivers, and staff, participated in three design‐thinking workshops generating ideas for oncology units. In Workshop One, participants identified issues that caused anxiety through journaling and experience diagramming, including amount of travel within the facility, small uncomfortable waiting rooms, smells, and institutional spaces. Using prioritizing strategies, participants concluded with, “How can we optimize patients’ time and movement within a facility?” This question informed subsequent workshops where participants brainstormed and prototyped ideas. The final solution addressed patient time and movement through the creation of individualized Patient Treatment Pods (PTP) that provided control, privacy, comfort, and minimal travel within oncology units. Participants clustered the PTPs around a restroom, patient lounge, nurse's station, and nutrition. Utilizing participants’ personal experiences along with design thinking led to a prototype that creates a cancer treatment facility that may better suit patient needs while potentially reducing anxiety.

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