The Effects of Virtual Reality on Hope and Travel Expectations in Healthy and Hospitalized Children: Quasi-Experimental Design Approach
Abstract BackgroundVirtual reality (VR) has become a powerful tool for enhancing the experiences of patients with critical illnesses, particularly hospitalized children with leukemia. Since traveling is nearly impossible for them, St Jude has teamed up with the travel company...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JMIR Publications
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Interactive Journal of Medical Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.i-jmr.org/2025/1/e65311 |
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| Summary: | Abstract
BackgroundVirtual reality (VR) has become a powerful tool for enhancing the experiences of patients with critical illnesses, particularly hospitalized children with leukemia. Since traveling is nearly impossible for them, St Jude has teamed up with the travel company Expedia to launch “Dream Adventures,” a pilot program that offers immersive VR experiences, allowing children to explore new destinations from the comfort of the hospital.
ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the pleasurable experience of VR and its impact on healthy and hospitalized children’s travel expectations and hope by using electrocardiography (ECG) and questionnaires to enhance research objectivity.
MethodsParticipants were children aged 7-18 years, divided into 2 distinct groups: 30 healthy children and 18 hospitalized children with leukemia. Both groups received the same VR intervention and were assessed using a 1-group pretest-posttest design. The questionnaires were designed to assess differences in the children’s sense of hope and travel expectations, and their physiological data were collected through ECG.
ResultsThe results indicated a statistically significant increase in hope levels from pre-VR to post-VR intervention in both healthy children (preintervention: mean 5.83, SD 0.87; postintervention: mean 6.36, SD 0.76; PPttP
ConclusionsThe VR intervention significantly increased hope levels in both healthy children and hospitalized children with leukemia, with a greater improvement observed among healthy participants. Therefore, this study suggests that when designing interventions for hospitalized children, more targeted emotional support strategies should be considered. Future studies are recommended to explore different types of VR content and the medical conditions of hospitalized children. |
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| ISSN: | 1929-073X |