Effects of virtual reality exposure on psychological distress in adolescent oncology patients.

Abstract

Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer often experience significant psychological distress during hospitalization. Virtual reality (VR) is a non-pharmacological intervention, yet its application in pediatric oncology remains limited. In this study, 35 patients aged 12-21 were assigned to either an experimental group (n=20), which received four VR sessions over two weeks in addition to standard care, or a control group (n=15), which received standard care only. Psychological measures included the Distress Thermometer (DT), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y1 (STAI-Y1), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The experimental group showed significant reductions in distress (DT), state anxiety (STAI-Y1), and depressive symptoms (HADS-D) (all p<.05; Cohen's d medium to large size). No significant changes were observed in the control group. These findings suggest that VR is a feasible, well-tolerated, and potentially effective tool for reducing psychological distress in AYA oncology patients. Such preliminary results support its integration into multidisciplinary care. Further large-scale studies are needed to confirm its efficacy.