Effect of virtual reality-based mindfulness training model on anxiety, depression, and cancer-related fatigue in ovarian cancer patients during chemotherapy.

Among 48 ovarian cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, a four-week mindfulness training program delivered through virtual reality significantly reduced anxiety, depression, and cancer-related fatigue. Patients reported high acceptance of the virtual reality-based training, which included personalized curriculum, intelligent monitoring, emotion tracking, and games. Scores on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Cancer-Related Fatigue Scale improved after the intervention, with the differences being statistically significant. The findings suggest that integrating virtual reality with mindfulness training can help alleviate psychological distress and fatigue during chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Although the prognosis of ovarian cancer can be significantly improved through standardized surgery and chemotherapy, 70% of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients would suffer from drug resistance and recurrence during the long chemotherapy cycle. To explore the impact of a training mode based on the integration of virtual reality technology and mindfulness on anxiety, depression, and cancer-related fatigue in ovarian cancer patients during chemotherapy. Through virtual reality technology, a mindfulness training software was designed and developed, and a mindfulness training mode based on virtual reality technology was constructed. Using a self-controlled design, 48 ovarian cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy who were hospitalized in a tertiary hospital in Beijing from August 2022 to May 2023 were conveniently selected as the research subjects. The patients were subjected to four weeks of mindfulness training based on virtual reality technology, and the acceptance of the mindfulness training mode using virtual reality technology was evaluated. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Cancer Related Fatigue Scale (CRF) were used to evaluate the anxiety, depression, and fatigue of patients before and after intervention. The virtual reality based mindfulness training mode includes four functional modules: personalized curriculum, intelligent monitoring, emotion tracking, and Funny Games. 48 patients had a high acceptance score (139.21 ± 10.47), and after using mindfulness training mode based on virtual reality technology, anxiety, depression, and cancer-related fatigue in ovarian cancer patients during chemotherapy were significantly reduced, with a statistically significant difference (p< 0.001). Ovarian cancer patients during chemotherapy have a high acceptance of virtual reality based mindfulness training mode. The application of this mode can reduce the psychological problems of anxiety, depression, and cancer-related fatigue in ovarian cancer patients during chemotherapy, and is worth promoting and using.