1. Utilizing the Metaverse to Provide Innovative Psychosocial Support for Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult Patients with Rare Cancer.
- Author
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Hasei, Joe, Ishida, Hisashi, Katayama, Hideki, Maeda, Naoko, Nagano, Akihito, Ochi, Motoharu, Okamura, Masako, Iwata, Shintaro, Ikuta, Kunihiro, Yoshida, Shinichirou, Fujiwara, Tomohiro, Nakata, Eiji, Nakahara, Ryuichi, Kunisada, Toshiyuki, and Ozaki, Toshifumi
- Subjects
TUMORS in children ,RESEARCH funding ,RARE diseases ,MEDICAL care ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,VIRTUAL reality ,TUMORS ,SOCIAL support ,DATA analysis software ,CHILDREN ,ADULTS - Abstract
Simple Summary: Pediatric, adolescent, and young adult (AYA) cancer patients, especially those with rare cancers, face unique challenges that traditional support systems may not adequately address. This study explores the potential of the metaverse, a virtual shared space, to provide psychological support and foster a sense of community among these patients. By utilizing customizable avatars and facilitating interactions across geographical and temporal barriers, the metaverse enables patients to connect with peers, share experiences, and receive emotional support. The anonymity provided by avatars helps reduce appearance-related anxiety and the stigma associated with cancer treatment. This research highlights the metaverse's potential to transform the delivery of psychosocial support for patients with rare cancers, offering a novel approach to patient care that transcends physical limitations and fosters a global patient community. The findings suggest that integrating virtual spaces into healthcare models can effectively meet the complex needs of pediatric and AYA cancer patients. This study investigated the potential of the metaverse in providing psychological support for pediatric and AYA cancer patients, with a focus on those with rare cancers. The research involved ten cancer patients and survivors from four distinct regions in Japan, who participated in metaverse sessions using customizable avatars, facilitating interactions across geographical and temporal barriers. Surveys and qualitative feedback were collected to assess the psychosocial impact of the intervention. The results demonstrated that the metaverse enabled patients to connect with peers, share experiences, and receive emotional support. The anonymity provided by avatars helped reduce appearance-related anxiety and stigma associated with cancer treatment. A case study of a 19-year-old male with spinal Ewing's sarcoma highlighted the profound emotional relief fostered by metaverse interactions. The findings suggest that integrating virtual spaces into healthcare models can effectively address the unique needs of pediatric and AYA cancer patients, offering a transformative approach to delivering psychosocial support and fostering a global patient community. This innovative intervention has the potential to revolutionize patient care in the digital age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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