Chemotherapy is often very stressful for cancer patients. Many suffer from nausea, nervousness and anxiety. Relaxation techniques can help to alleviate the side effects of the therapies. However, it is difficult to use these techniques in the often overcrowded outpatient clinics. In this project, we offer patients virtual reality headsets that allow them to relax in a virtual natural environment. This is to reduce the side effects of the therapy. In the scientific evaluation, we (WTZ, IPE, ZvRM, IKIM) want to investigate whether the use of VR headsets and virtual nature during chemotherapy in the outpatient clinic of the West German Tumor Center (WTZ) in Essen Huttrop is possible for patients with gastrointestinal tumors. In addition, the influence on the acute tolerance of chemotherapy is to be recorded with the help of a structured questionnaire.
For our study, we are using the Meta Quest 3, an advanced VR headset and the “Nature Treks VR” app from Greener Games. The VR app offers a lively and interactive environment that is perfect for relaxing and enjoying the beauty of nature.
Partners
- Westdeutschen Tumorzentrum, Ambulanz am Standort Essen-Huttrop
- Prof. Dr. Stefan Kasper-Virchow
- Beata Maria Goraus
- Institut für PatientenErleben
- Monja Gerigk
- Slobodan Jovic
- Zentrum für virtuelle und erweiterte Realität in der Medizin
- Dr. Stefan Liszio
- Dr. Oliver Basu
- Institut für Künstliche Intelligenz in der Medizin
- Gijs Luijten
- Prof. Dr. Dr. Jan Egger
Contact
Monja Gerigk (monja.gerigk@uk-essen.de)
