Can virtual reality simulation prepare patients for an MRI experience?

Nakarada-Kordic, Ivana; Reay, Stephen; Bennett, Gregory; Kruse, Jan; Lydon, Anna‐Maria; Sim, Jenny

doi:10.1016/j.radi.2019.11.004

Cited by 34 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…In addition to finding no differences in our measure of success, we also found no clinically significant differences among children’s reported anxiety when using VR-MRI compared with the other standards of care (T1, P =.99; T2, P =.008; T3, P =.10). Other studies have reported low anxiety during medical imaging simulations [ 30 ]. The findings of this study and ours question the relationship suggested by many studies (that anxiety directly influences motion artifacts).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, virtual reality (VR), a computer-generated simulation of a 3D environment that can be explored and interacted with by the use of a head-mounted display (HMD), has emerged as an effective solution for reducing anxiety in a variety of pediatric psychological applications [ 21 , 22 ], including preprocedural anxiety [ 23 - 32 ]. Although the use of VR in hospital settings is promising, to our knowledge, only one study has compared it with the CLP regarding anxiety [ 30 ]. We also found only one small meta-analysis comparing different types of preparation programs regarding objective image quality [ 33 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We also found only one small meta-analysis comparing different types of preparation programs regarding objective image quality [ 33 ]. Of the studies that have been conducted to evaluate VR in procedural preparation thus far, most have focused primarily on self-reporting and survey metrics [ 27 , 28 , 30 ]. There is a need for rigorous randomized clinical trials using innovative methods to establish the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of alternatives to sedation in preparing pediatric patients for medical imaging procedures before applying them in real pediatric clinical settings [ 21 , 34 - 36 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparing a Virtual Reality–Based Simulation App (VR-MRI) With a Standard Preparatory Manual and Child Life Program for Improving Success and Reducing Anxiety During Pediatric Medical Imaging: Randomized Clinical Trial

Stunden¹,

Stratton²,

Zakani³

et al. 2021

J Med Internet Res

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Background The experience of undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be anxiety provoking, particularly for pediatric patients and their families. Alternative methods to improve success and experiences without the use of sedation are needed. Objective This study aims to compare the effectiveness of a virtual reality (VR)—based simulation app (VR-MRI) with a standard preparatory manual (SPM) and a hospital-based Child Life Program (CLP) on success and anxiety during a simulated pediatric MRI scan. Our secondary aim is to compare caregivers’ reported anxiety, procedural data, caregiver usability, child satisfaction, and fun. Methods This unblinded, randomized, triple-arm clinical trial involved 92 children aged 4-13 years and their caregivers. Recruitment was conducted through posters, public libraries, community centers, and social media. At a 2-hour session, participants were instructed to prepare for a simulated MRI head scan using one of three randomly assigned preparation materials: the VR-MRI app, SPM, or the CLP. Data were collected before preparation, during a simulated MRI head scan, and after the simulated scan. The primary outcomes were the success of the simulated MRI scan (MoTrak head motion tracking system), and child-reported anxiety (Venham picture test). We secondarily measured caregivers’ reported anxiety (short State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), procedural data (minutes), usability (Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of Use Questionnaire), and child-reported satisfaction and fun (visual analog scales). Results A total of 84 participants were included in the final analysis (VR-MRI: 30/84, 36%; SPM: 24/84, 29%; and CLP: 30/84, 36%). There were no clinically significant differences between the groups in terms of success during the MRI simulation (P=.27) or the children’s reported anxiety at any timepoint (timepoint 1, P=.99; timepoint 2, P=.008; timepoint 3, P=.10). Caregivers reported being significantly more anxious after preparing with the manual than caregivers in the other 2 groups (P<.001). Child and caregiver anxiety had a significant relationship, increasing together with moderate effect (r84=0.421; P<.001). Participants using VR-MRI took the most time to prepare (P<.001) and participants using the manual took the least time (P<.001). No statistically significant relationships were found between time preparing and time completing the simulated assessment (P=.13). There were no differences found in ease of use (P=.99), ease of learning (P=.48), and usefulness (P=.11) between the groups; however, caregivers reported being significantly more satisfied with the VR-MRI app and CLP than SPM (P<.001). Children reported the most satisfaction with the CLP (P<.001). There were no differences in how much fun the preparation materials were perceived to be (P=.37). Conclusions Digital preparation experiences using VR-based media could be a viable solution to improve the success of nonsedated MRI scans, with outcomes comparable with hospital-based in-person preparatory programs. Future research should focus on validating the results in a real MRI setting. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03931382; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03931382

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Comparing a Virtual Reality–Based Simulation App (VR-MRI) With a Standard Preparatory Manual and Child Life Program for Improving Success and Reducing Anxiety During Pediatric Medical Imaging: Randomized Clinical Trial

Stunden¹,

Stratton²,

Zakani³

et al. 2021

J Med Internet Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These findings corroborate previous conclusions that patients must be treated as individuals and provided with emotional support to ensure they have positive experiences in medical imaging 19,21,37 . As recorded in a previous study of a VR environment for oncology patients 38 , our participating patients were impressed with how similar the 360°VCE experience was to the authentic real-life experience.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patients', radiographers' and radiography students’ experiences of 360° virtual counselling environment for the coronary computed tomography angiography: A qualitative study

et al. 2021

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Introduction:The aim of this study was to describe patients', radiographers' and radiography students' experiences of the developed 360° virtual counselling environment (360°VCE) for the coronary computed tomography angiography (cCTA). Methods:A descriptive qualitative approach was used. The participants were cCTA patients (n=10), radiographers (n=10) and radiography students (n=10) who used the 360°VCE and visited or worked at a university hospital in Finland. The 360°VCE, resembling the authentic environments of a CT imaging unit, included digital counselling materials in text, image, animation and video formats. Data were gathered through thematic interviews individually to obtain an understanding of participants' perspectives and analyzed by inductive content analysis.Results: Five main categories and 15 categories were identified. Identified benefits of the 360°VCE for patients included improvements in knowledge, spatial and environmental orientation, and senses of security and self-efficacy, with reductions in fear and nervousness. Patients found the counselling materials engaging, and that the 360° technology conveniently provided reassuring familiarity with the environment before their visit. Identified benefits for radiographers and radiography students included improvements in patients' mental preparedness, knowledge, spatial and environmental orientation, and reductions in patients' fear, which eased procedures and enhanced diagnostic success. The 360°VCE also provided useful information and familiarization with the cCTA unit for students during clinical practice and staff of referring units. Conclusion:It seems that patients', radiographers' and radiography students' experiences of 360°VCE respond to patients' needs by improved knowledge and reduced fears. Thus, current counselling practices can be usefully complemented with spherical panoramic imaging technology and online information delivery. Implications for practice:The results may be used to improve patient counselling and care, thereby optimizing the cCTA examination procedure and reducing fear. However, further research is needed to characterize experiences of the 360° VCE more comprehensively.

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“…It is also being deployed as a tool for desensitization and habituation in the preparation phase prior to MRI examination. Examples include a mobile based VR app, applied to help educate patients about MRI and simulate the experience of actually being scanned 9 , and a more complex PC based VR system for patient preparation, which allows users to navigate in a virtual scanning room and interact with equipment 10 . The latter study shows 86% of participants found VR simulation to be a feasible and accessible alternative to mock scanning to prepare patients.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Eye Tracking Based Virtual Reality System for Use Inside Magnetic Resonance Imaging Systems

Qian

Price

Dall’Orso

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Patients undergoing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) often experience anxiety and sometimes distress prior to and during scanning. Here a full MRI compatible virtual reality (VR) system is described and tested with the aim of creating a radically different experience. Potential benefits could accrue from the strong sense of immersion that can be created with VR, which could create sense experiences designed to avoid the perception of being enclosed and could also provide new modes of diversion and interaction that could make even lengthy MRI examinations much less challenging. Most current VR systems rely on head mounted displays combined with head motion tracking to achieve and maintain a visceral sense of a tangible virtual world, but this technology and approach encourages physical motion, which would be unacceptable and could be physically incompatible for MRI. The proposed VR system uses gaze tracking to control and interact with a virtual world. MRI compatible cameras are used to allow real time eye tracking and robust gaze tracking is achieved through an adaptive calibration strategy in which each successive VR interaction initiated by the subject updates the gaze estimation model. A dedicated VR framework has been developed including a rich virtual world and gaze-controlled game content. To aid in achieving immersive experiences physical sensations, including noise, vibration and proprioception associated with patient table movements, have been made congruent with the presented virtual scene. A live video link allows subject-carer interaction, projecting a supportive presence into the virtual world.

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Can virtual reality simulation prepare patients for an MRI experience?

Cited by 34 publications

References 31 publications

Comparing a Virtual Reality–Based Simulation App (VR-MRI) With a Standard Preparatory Manual and Child Life Program for Improving Success and Reducing Anxiety During Pediatric Medical Imaging: Randomized Clinical Trial

Comparing a Virtual Reality–Based Simulation App (VR-MRI) With a Standard Preparatory Manual and Child Life Program for Improving Success and Reducing Anxiety During Pediatric Medical Imaging: Randomized Clinical Trial

Patients', radiographers' and radiography students’ experiences of 360° virtual counselling environment for the coronary computed tomography angiography: A qualitative study

An Eye Tracking Based Virtual Reality System for Use Inside Magnetic Resonance Imaging Systems

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