Hasei Joe, Ishida Hisashi, Katayama Hideki, Maeda Naoko, Nagano Akihito, Ochi Motoharu, Okamura Masako, Iwata Shintaro, Ikuta Kunihiro, Yoshida Shinichirou, Fujiwara Tomohiro, Nakata Eiji, Nakahara Ryuichi, Kunisada Toshiyuki, Ozaki Toshifumi
Department of Medical Information and Assistive Technology Development, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-0082, Japan.
Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama 700-8558, Japan.
Cancers (Basel). 2024 Jul 23;16(15):2617. doi: 10.3390/cancers16152617.
This study investigated the potential of the metaverse in providing psychological support for pediatric and AYA cancer patients, with a focus on those with rare cancers. The research involved ten cancer patients and survivors from four distinct regions in Japan, who participated in metaverse sessions using customizable avatars, facilitating interactions across geographical and temporal barriers. Surveys and qualitative feedback were collected to assess the psychosocial impact of the intervention. The results demonstrated that the metaverse enabled patients to connect with peers, share experiences, and receive emotional support. The anonymity provided by avatars helped reduce appearance-related anxiety and stigma associated with cancer treatment. A case study of a 19-year-old male with spinal Ewing's sarcoma highlighted the profound emotional relief fostered by metaverse interactions. The findings suggest that integrating virtual spaces into healthcare models can effectively address the unique needs of pediatric and AYA cancer patients, offering a transformative approach to delivering psychosocial support and fostering a global patient community. This innovative intervention has the potential to revolutionize patient care in the digital age.
本研究调查了元宇宙在为儿科和青少年及青年癌症患者提供心理支持方面的潜力，重点关注患有罕见癌症的患者。该研究涉及来自日本四个不同地区的10名癌症患者和幸存者，他们使用可定制的虚拟化身参与了元宇宙会议，促进了跨越地理和时间障碍的互动。收集了调查问卷和定性反馈，以评估该干预措施对心理社会的影响。结果表明，元宇宙使患者能够与同龄人建立联系、分享经历并获得情感支持。虚拟化身提供的匿名性有助于减少与癌症治疗相关的外貌焦虑和耻辱感。一名19岁患有脊柱尤文肉瘤的男性的案例研究突出了元宇宙互动所带来的深刻情感缓解。研究结果表明，将虚拟空间融入医疗保健模式可以有效满足儿科和青少年及青年癌症患者的独特需求，提供一种变革性的方式来提供心理社会支持并培育全球患者社区。这种创新干预措施有可能在数字时代彻底改变患者护理方式。
