Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly being used as a form of digital therapy for conditions such as anxiety, pain and stress. Although the clinical benefits of these applications are becoming increasingly well-established, new research shows that their success does not depend solely on the technology itself. The way in which patients are introduced to VR therapy also plays an important role. Researchers conclude that brief guidance from a healthcare professional can significantly improve the acceptance and use of VR therapy.
Other studies have already demonstrated the added value of VR therapy on several occasions. For example, it has been shown to be an effective method for alleviating pain, reducing anxiety about a treatment or procedure, and is also effective in the treatment of arachnophobia. Unlike such earlier studies, this research did not focus on the effectiveness of VR as a treatment, but on its implementation in everyday healthcare. The researchers investigated how different forms of introduction influence usage, adherence to treatment and the patients’ experience.
Feasibility study
For the feasibility study, 31 adults with little or no experience of virtual reality were randomly assigned to three groups. The first group was given a VR headset with the therapeutic application and only limited instruction. The second group received, in addition to the headset, supplementary resources such as a quick-start guide, an in-app tutorial and access to a chatbot for technical support.
The third group received the same materials, but also a brief, structured five-minute introduction from a trained healthcare professional. During this session, a safety check was carried out, the headset was adjusted to fit properly, and the first steps of the treatment were worked through together. This design enabled the researchers to determine which form of onboarding contributed most to a successful start to the treatment.
Guidance is crucial
The results show that patients who received guidance from a healthcare professional used the VR therapy for longer and more consistently than participants who started without support. They also rated the technology as more user-friendly and made fewer mistakes during the initial sessions. Although all participants had a more positive attitude towards VR therapy after a brief introduction, acceptance was highest in the group that received personal guidance. According to the researchers, human support helped to reduce uncertainty and reluctance, and gave patients greater confidence in using the technology.
Furthermore, the treatment was well tolerated across all groups. Participants reported only minor symptoms of cyber sickness, and no one discontinued the treatment prematurely due to side effects.
Clinical credibility
According to the researchers, the results emphasise that the successful implementation of digital therapies goes beyond simply making the technology available. A brief interaction with a healthcare professional appears to be sufficient to lend VR therapy greater clinical credibility, set clear expectations and better support patients during their initial experiences.
The researchers argue that healthcare organisations should therefore focus not only on the development of digital therapies, but also on how these are integrated into existing care processes. In this regard, clearly defined roles for both healthcare providers and patients are essential.
Although this is a small-scale feasibility study, the findings suggest that even limited supervision can make a significant contribution to the wider acceptance of VR therapy in everyday practice. Further studies are needed to determine how this approach can be applied on a larger scale and what effects this has on long-term use and treatment outcomes.
