The FDA’s approval of Smileyscope VR for pain management and Stanford’s research on virtual reality’s impact on senior care exemplify the growing influence of AR and VR in healthcare. Smileyscope’s digital therapeutic offers relief during medical procedures, while Stanford’s study demonstrates the transformative potential of VR in geriatric care. Additionally, the University of Pennsylvania’s research highlights the effectiveness of VR training for Naloxone administration, a critical tool in the fight against opioid overdoses. These developments underscore the increasing significance of AR and VR in enhancing patient experiences and healthcare outcomes.
Virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) are rapidly gaining ground in the field of healthcare. Despite some initial challenges and hurdles, these technologies are becoming increasingly prevalent as their benefits and applications become apparent. Recent developments highlight how VR and AR are making strides in various healthcare use cases.
Smileyscope VR Receives FDA Clearance for Pain Treatment
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently granted Class II clearance to Smileyscope, a digital therapeutic that employs positive virtual stimuli to alleviate pain and anxiety during medical procedures. Smileyscope announced this groundbreaking development on Monday. Previously, on September 25, the FDA cleared the VR system to provide drug-free, temporary relief from acute anxiety associated with needle procedures. Smileyscope holds a patent for Procedural Choreography, a proprietary technique that replaces real-world stimuli with positive virtual stimuli.
According to the company’s website, Smileyscope can be used for patients aged four and above. Dr. David Seo, Senior Vice President and Chief Information and Digital Officer for Nicklaus Children’s Health System, highlighted how needle procedures can be extremely stressful for children of all ages. He mentioned that emergency department clinicians use Smileyscope for “artful distraction,” and families can request VR support to reduce children’s discomfort and anxiety. Dr. Evelyn Chan, CEO and co-founder of Smileyscope, emphasized their robust pipeline of drug-free pain and anxiety management treatments for both children and adults.
Previous studies have shown that using VR goggles to provide high-tech diversion to children can significantly reduce fear and pain during vaccination. Dr. Robert Louis, a neurosurgeon at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, California, pointed out that VR’s utility extends across various specialties, benefiting both surgeons in training and adult patients preparing for surgery.
Enhancing Senior-Caregiver Relationships with VR
A study conducted by Stanford University’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab in collaboration with Mynd Immersive and AT&T 5G Healthcare has revealed that virtual reality has transformative applications in healthcare, particularly in geriatric care. Dr. Jeremy Bailenson, founding director of the VHIL, and researcher Ryan Christopher Moore found that VR has the potential to positively impact geriatric care. They used technology from Mynd Immersive (formerly MyndVR) to understand how older adults perceive virtual reality and how professional caregivers feel about facilitating these experiences. The study, involving 245 older adults and 39 caregivers in 16 senior care communities across 10 states, is the largest ever conducted on the use of VR among older adults.
The study’s findings are promising:
– 81% of surveyed caregivers reported that they enjoyed interacting with residents more when using VR compared to other activities.
– 94.9% stated that using VR was “moderately to extremely beneficial to their relationship” with the patient.
– 89.5% of senior care residents reported the same level of benefit in their relationships with the staff.
– 74.2% of caregivers reported improved moods in residents, while 77.9% of the residents reported feeling more positive.
– 57.5% of older adults felt less isolated from the outside world after using VR during the study.
HTC VIVE, a company specializing in 5G products and VR systems, collaborated with Select Rehabilitation and senior living communities, including John Knox Village in Pompano Beach, Florida, to participate in the research sponsored by Mynd Immersive. Cher Wang, Chairwoman of HTC, noted that data from industry partners and esteemed independent researchers like Stanford University are advancing the entire industry. The research study is expected to be published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking by the end of the year.
VR Training for Naloxone Administration
In 2019 and 2020, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania conducted a study demonstrating that VR training is just as effective as traditional methods in educating people on how to administer Naloxone (also known as Narcan), an opioid antagonist that can reverse opioid drug overdoses by restoring normal breathing. This groundbreaking research paved the way for collaboration with local governments to combat opioid overdose statistics.
With grant funding from the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, the Camden County Board of Commissioners, Prosecutor’s Office, and Addiction Awareness Task Force, along with the University of Pennsylvania’s Schools of Nursing and the Annenberg School of Communications, a nine-minute immersive video was created for training various individuals, including students, staff, school administrators, bus drivers, and others who carry Naloxone.
The locally tailored VR training video was released on October 27, according to an announcement from the prosecutor’s office. Camden County, one of the regions hardest hit by the opioid epidemic, recognized the critical importance of Naloxone in the battle against opioid overdoses. Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. stressed the necessity of training as many people as possible in administering this life-saving medication, and the instructional video is a significant step toward achieving that goal.
Sarah Banet-Weiser, Dean of the Annenberg School for Communication, expressed her excitement about the immediate, life-saving impact of this innovative use of virtual reality. Antonia Villarruel, Dean of the School of Nursing, emphasized the University of Pennsylvania’s commitment to making a positive impact on the community through their research. Virtual reality is not only transforming healthcare but also saving lives and improving the well-being of individuals across different age groups.
Overall, the growing acceptance and application of virtual and augmented reality in healthcare continue to open new possibilities for pain management, senior care, and life-saving training. These technologies are helping reduce anxiety, enhance relationships between caregivers and senior residents, and provide valuable education on critical topics like Naloxone administration. As VR and AR technologies evolve, their potential in healthcare becomes increasingly apparent, paving the way for a brighter and more immersive future in the field.
