Mental Health, Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues—Application of Virtual Reality

Abstract

As defined by the World Health Organization, palliative care is an interdisciplinary specialty aiming to improve the quality of life for people living with life-threatening diseases, by the collaborative contributions from various professionals such as doctors, nurses, social workers, therapists and volunteers. In recent decades, there have been rising demands for palliative care around the world due to the growing ageing population and prevalence of non-communicable diseases, as well as certain communicable diseases. Patients who have terminal illness not only face severe physical sufferings, but also experience significant psychological burdens. A holistic approach incorporating psychological interventions is essential in the provision of quality palliative care. Innovation and development of approaches to improve psychological well-being of palliative care patients has been a major research agenda in the field of palliative care and end-of-life issues. In recent years with the advancement in technology, increasing studies have investigated the applications of virtual reality technology in pain relief and symptom management in the palliative care setting. Extensive efforts have also been applied to research studies regarding the acceptability, feasibility and assessment of virtual reality therapy for palliative care patients. This chapter will reveal relevant studies addressing these critical aspects in palliative care. This chapter will further discuss the implications for the development of effective and integrative approaches in end-of-life care for the community, as well as insights gained from the use of virtual reality in palliative care education.