E D I T O R ' S Q U E S T I O N

VR allows people receiving palliative care to explore different environments and scenery based on individual preferences, provide an alternative setting from their routine environment and allow them to engage in sights and sounds that provide distraction from their illness and help occupy the brain in positive ways.

Using VR in palliative care offers a range of physiological and psychological benefits.

According to a 2022 meta-analysis( Martin et al., 2022), some of these benefits may include: improved pain management, reduced anxiety and depression symptoms, improved comfort and mood, decreased feelings of loneliness and isolation and improved breathing.

VR can offer activities that are essential for people living with serious illnesses’ wellbeing. However, many don’ t have the financial resources, health, energy or family support to engage in their interests and events. VR can overcome these barriers and help people virtually engage in meaningful activities. Research findings suggest that VR improved anxiety, depression and mental health disorders( Martin et al., 2022).

VR has the potential to create moments of joy and pleasure. People with only months to live could virtually travel to places on their bucket lists, feeling almost as if they were there. They could also‘ visit’ places that hold sweet, old memories; reminiscing by visiting memorable places in VR was more positive for people receiving palliative care than visiting new places( Martin et al., 2022).

Moloney and colleagues( 2023) conducted a literature review to document how VR was used in palliative care and found that VR offered meditative / relaxing experiences, exciting activities, or travel experiences. The endpoints were to document quality of life, physical and psychological symptoms, function, physiological signals, spiritual wellbeing, and behavioural changes. In relation to physical and psychological symptoms, people reported perceived improvements in their symptoms related to underlying health conditions( e. g. improvements in pain, tiredness, body relaxation, breathing, depression and anxiety). An increased sense of well-being and happiness was reported, as well as positive feelings of relief from the burden of hospitalisation.

Most people want to die at home but often die in hospitals and nursing homes. VR could allow conscious patients to choose their ideal location to feel like they are dying at home or some other idyllic place. �

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