About this Research Topic
The use of extended realities (XR) such as virtual realities (VR) and augmented realities (AR) in health care demonstrate significant values in the outcomes of patients. From VR guided meditations where the patient can be fully immersed in a virtual setting whilst getting the instructions around meditative practice, through to cognitive therapy to help with behavior and Post traumatic Distress Syndrome. VR experiences for patients are also being used diversion therapy reducing stress and anxiety whilst receiving a medical procedure, such as distracting pediatric patient when giving a needle to relaxing cancer patients during chemotherapy. More advanced use for patients can even couple VR with Artificial Intelligence, to help diagnose visual impairment and mental health conditions. Additionally, AR is used in many settings from being able to visualize a patient's veins for cannulation through to patient education for stoma and wound care.
Using VR and AR numerous scientific studies continue to show the benefits of using XR for better patient outcomes. Whilst affording the ability to engage patients using technology can not only provide better care relating to better outcomes but also improve the relationship between patient and their health care provider. Additionally, researchers, health professionals, hospitals, administrators, and technology designers need to better understand the needs of patients from a usability perspective. As well as understanding development, deployment, and scale, so that future iteration of XR continue to become seamless in there use to better provide patient uptake, to bring immersive technologies to a normative presence in health care.
It is in this context that we welcome contributions to the research topic “The use of extended realities XR in providing better patient outcomes in health care”. Qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, reviews, pilot studies, and case studies are welcome. All contributions should clearly address the practical and/or theoretical implications of the research with short papers 2-5 pages will be considered.
We are therefore welcoming submission of original research, qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, reviews, pilot studies, and case studies on the following topics:
• Design, implementation, and evaluation of AR/VR applications to improve patient outcomes
• Methods/pilot studies that afford improvements in the development, deployment and sustainability in patient driven AR/VR applications
• Challenges and pitfalls of applying AR/VR interventions for patients within the clinical environment
• Deployment of AR/VR for patient use in rural and remote health care and approaches that promote access and adoption in these settings
• Positive and negative impacts of AR/VR for patient use during the COVID-19 pandemic
Using VR and AR numerous scientific studies continue to show the benefits of using XR for better patient outcomes. Whilst affording the ability to engage patients using technology can not only provide better care relating to better outcomes but also improve the relationship between patient and their health care provider. Additionally, researchers, health professionals, hospitals, administrators, and technology designers need to better understand the needs of patients from a usability perspective. As well as understanding development, deployment, and scale, so that future iteration of XR continue to become seamless in there use to better provide patient uptake, to bring immersive technologies to a normative presence in health care.
It is in this context that we welcome contributions to the research topic “The use of extended realities XR in providing better patient outcomes in health care”. Qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, reviews, pilot studies, and case studies are welcome. All contributions should clearly address the practical and/or theoretical implications of the research with short papers 2-5 pages will be considered.
We are therefore welcoming submission of original research, qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, reviews, pilot studies, and case studies on the following topics:
• Design, implementation, and evaluation of AR/VR applications to improve patient outcomes
• Methods/pilot studies that afford improvements in the development, deployment and sustainability in patient driven AR/VR applications
• Challenges and pitfalls of applying AR/VR interventions for patients within the clinical environment
• Deployment of AR/VR for patient use in rural and remote health care and approaches that promote access and adoption in these settings
• Positive and negative impacts of AR/VR for patient use during the COVID-19 pandemic
Keywords: extended reality, ehealth, mixed reality, VR, transformative technology
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
