Tandem VR TM in Hospice Care: Exploring Pilot Data for Patient-Caregiver Dyads

Abstract

Background

Virtual reality (VR) can improve patient well-being in palliative care. However, little is known about VR’s impacts on hospice patients & caregivers, personalized VR experiences, and shared VR experiences.

Objective

This pilot study uses Tandem VR^TM—shared, synchronized and personalized VR experiences—to test impacts on well-being and fear of death and dying.

Design

Pre-post pilot study with a one-time VR experience using personalized 360° videos.

Setting/Participants

11 patient-caregiver dyads were recruited in a home-based Hospice care setting in a rural area of the U.S. South.

Measurement

Patients and caregivers completed the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire-Expanded (MQOL-E) and Revised Collett-Lester Fear of Death (CL-FODS) before and after the VR intervention. Due to the small sample size and exploratory pilot nature of the study, formal statistical testing was not conducted. Interpretation focused on the direction and magnitude of change, with an emphasis on clinically meaningful shifts in MQOL-E and CL-FODS subscales.

Results

Patients and caregivers reported improvements in the MQOL-E Single Item Scale (+1.35 for patients; +1.27 for caregivers on a 10-point scale). Caregivers showed improvements in the CL-FODS Fear of Other’s Death subscale (−0.49 on a 5-point scale), but patients showed exacerbated scores for the CL-FODS Fear of Own Dying (+0.50 on a 5-point scale).

Conclusion

Tandem VR^TM showed potential to support quality of life in patient-caregiver dyads and fear of other’s dying for caregivers. Further research is needed on supporting patients nearing the end of life to process missed opportunities available in VR.