Deciding between AR and VR for your hospital

On the surface, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) seem to be similar solutions to similar problems. But, if you look closer, their most prominent qualities are quite unique from each other, and they accomplish very different objectives.

Virtual Reality: Full-immersion escape from the real world

VR technology uses headsets to completely fill your field of vision with the virtual environment, creating the feeling that you’re “immersed” in it. This has a variety of medical applications, including distraction-based pain perception reduction.

In October 2019, the first VR treatment was awarded Therapeutic Device designation by the FDA! This win paves the way for other VR and AR devices and products to gain FDA approval, which will increase patient and provider access to non-pharmacologic treatments. Recent studies show that VR is effective in reducing pain perception for both chronic and acute pain patients.

A common concern with pediatric VR therapy is safety, but recent studies show that this is largely unwarranted. While it’s true that the majority of commercially-available VR headsets are approved for users 13 years and older, this is largely due to the physical size of the headset-- you probably wouldn’t put adult-sized glasses on a child and expect the lenses to work effectively!

Also, range of movement is extremely limited while using a VR headset. The user needs to stand in one place, since their vision of the real world is totally blocked, and it's very easy for them to bump into things around them.

Augmented Reality: More freedom of movement and use

AR technology is generally more financially accessible than VR technology due to the cost of the technologies involved. While the cost of VR headsets has gone down in the past decade, purchasing a device for the sole purpose of VR treatment can still be prohibitive. AR technology, on the other hand, most commonly requires only a smartphone or similar device, which many hospitals and families already own and use. This can streamline hospital logistics, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic: one less thing to sanitize!

If the medical team and the patient are already familiar with smartphone operation or AR-based products such as Pokémon Go, training and use are also streamlined, saving time and money. Any child can play using AR, regardless of their age or size.

While the preliminary research into AR therapy efficacy is promising, an increased effort is necessary in order to increase access and usage. In October of 2019, SpellBound began an NIH-funded study to measure efficacy of ARISE, our digital scavenger hunt, on pain perception and opioid consumption in pediatric cancer patients. We look forward to adding to the body of pediatric AR research!

How do I know which technology is right for my situation?

For children who are in acute pain or skittish about medical procedures, VR-based distraction therapies can provide excellent reduction in pain perception and anxiety. Experts contend that children under 12 lack the ability to distinguish VR experiences from reality, which can make these experiences highly effective in “removing” the child from the stressful or painful hospital scenario. For example, a 9-year old with a fear of needles can become so engrossed in his virtual experience that he may forget about the poke procedure altogether.

AR can provide highly mobile and accessible distraction therapy. But, for the child undergoing long-term treatment or a prolonged recovery, AR is much more than just an accessible VR alternative.

As the child uses AR therapy to explore the therapeutic environment, whether in the hospital or at home, they are actively synthesizing that environment with the exciting and engaging virtual experience. For a critically or chronically ill child, the ability to view the hospital as a positive environment is critical to developing a healthy and empowered attitude towards treatment. In turn, this attitude reduces the incidence of patient noncompliance, trauma responses, and care-related anxiety.