"I Don't Get to Feel This Good Very Often:" Virtual Reality Intervention for Veterans Receiving End-of-Life Care.

BACKGROUND

While virtual reality (VR) is a valuable therapeutic tool, its utility for hospice and palliative care (HPC) is understudied.

OBJECTIVES

We explored the use of VR with patients receiving inpatient HPC.

DESIGN

Mixed methods study examining feasibility and clinical outcomes of a VR program.

SETTING/SUBJECTS: Twenty-five veterans with complex medical and psychiatric comorbidities at a Veterans Affairs hospital participated. Data related to self-reported pain and well-being, as well as session feedback, were gathered.

RESULTS

Despite some challenges with setup, 91% reported enjoyment, and 90% would participate again. Travel experiences were most popular, allowing reminiscence and touring of bucket-list destinations. Program feedback suggested improvements in anxiety, mood, and boredom.

CONCLUSIONS

Results demonstrate the use of VR to facilitate meaningful engagement and improve psychological well-being for veterans receiving HPC. Additionally, opportunities for socialization and reminiscence, even while bedbound, increased. These findings support further exploration of VR as an intervention in HPC.