People associate healthcare with pain.
We think about surgeries and procedures. We think about diseases and diagnoses. We think about anything and everything that may land us a night, or two, in a hospital bed.
One of the most anxiety-producing situations for any patient is the time of a surgery or any other medical procedure. However, one study proved how efficient and effective the use of virtual reality in healthcare scenarios could be in eliminating pain, discomfort, and anxiety without the use of medication.
A simple VR headset with a relaxing and stimulating game was found to have the ability to lower anxiety and fear through a virtual escape.
The Virtual Reality Pain Distraction Experience conducted research, which involved a focus group of fifty (50) patients with a VR headset and a 15-minute VR experience called Pain RelieVR. The gameplay focused on hitting objects with balls while wandering around a relaxing, fantasy world.
There was no violence. There was no competition. There was also no need to physically move while wearing the headsets.There was, however, motivational music, positive animations, and direct messages to keep the patient engaged. All it took to play the game was a simple turn of the head.
This type of study showed a clear indication that VR applications in healthcare had the potential to help patients deal with pain and anxiety without the use of pain meds. Another similar study focused on VR's ability to detract from a woman's pain during childbirth without the use of an epidural.
A relatively pain-free experience in a hospital seems to be getting closer to reality.