Virtual reality to improve the quality of life in children with cancer

Abstract

Virtual reality has been used in the last years as a non-invasive treatment that distracts patients from some painful procedures applied to them during their treatment. This distraction decreases anxiety and pain, so that the patient can have more adherence to the treatment. The patient that uses virtual reality has a decrease in the perception of time that has passed since the beginning of the treatment, so the patient feels more relax and with less pain and anxiety. Pediatric patients have more anxiety and stress caused by invasive procedures. We can improve the quality of life of our patients with the use of virtual reality by diminishing symptoms such as anxiety, fatigue and pain during their treatments.