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Background: adolescent and young adult (AYA) (person aged 15–39 years old) constitute a significant population impacted by cancer, with approximately one million diagnoses annually and survival rates exceeding 80% due to advances in treatment. Despite these promising outcomes, AYAs and their informal caregivers face significant challenges, including physical symptoms like pain and fatigue, emotional issues such as anxiety and isolation, and psychosocial disruptions to life goals. Digital health interventions, particularly virtual reality (VR), offer a novel approach to addressing these challenges. By leveraging immersive technologies, VR provides opportunities for pain relief, emotional support, and enhanced connectivity within remote, home-based settings. This chapter is based on the results from two systematic literature reviews that were conducted to explore the use of digital health interventions, specifically VR, in addressing the needs of AYA cancer patients and their informal caregivers. Comprehensive searches were conducted in databases including MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science. Studies were screened and selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, emphasizing interventions targeting psychosocial and quality-of-life outcomes. Data synthesis focused on identifying trends, strengths, and limitations in existing digital health interventions. The reviews highlighted diverse applications of VR for AYAs, including relaxation exercises, virtual nature environments, and avatar-based peer support, which collectively demonstrated efficacy in reducing anxiety, managing pain, and fostering social connections. For caregivers, VR-enabled tools provided educational content and stress management support, enhancing their ability to cope with caregiving demands. While findings underscore the promise of VR in improving psychosocial and emotional well-being, further research is required to address existing gaps, enhance accessibility, and ensure long-term efficacy especially in home-based (remote) environment. Despite these benefits, challenges such as high costs, technological barriers, and limited long-term data were noted.

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Virtual Spaces in Supportive Care

  • 章节

  • 发表日期：

    2025年

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  • Nikolina Dodlek,
  • Andreas Charalambous,
  • Marios Avraamides,
  • Angelos Kassianos

摘要

Background: adolescent and young adult (AYA) (person aged 15–39 years old) constitute a significant population impacted by cancer, with approximately one million diagnoses annually and survival rates exceeding 80% due to advances in treatment. Despite these promising outcomes, AYAs and their informal caregivers face significant challenges, including physical symptoms like pain and fatigue, emotional issues such as anxiety and isolation, and psychosocial disruptions to life goals. Digital health interventions, particularly virtual reality (VR), offer a novel approach to addressing these challenges. By leveraging immersive technologies, VR provides opportunities for pain relief, emotional support, and enhanced connectivity within remote, home-based settings. This chapter is based on the results from two systematic literature reviews that were conducted to explore the use of digital health interventions, specifically VR, in addressing the needs of AYA cancer patients and their informal caregivers. Comprehensive searches were conducted in databases including MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science. Studies were screened and selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, emphasizing interventions targeting psychosocial and quality-of-life outcomes. Data synthesis focused on identifying trends, strengths, and limitations in existing digital health interventions. The reviews highlighted diverse applications of VR for AYAs, including relaxation exercises, virtual nature environments, and avatar-based peer support, which collectively demonstrated efficacy in reducing anxiety, managing pain, and fostering social connections. For caregivers, VR-enabled tools provided educational content and stress management support, enhancing their ability to cope with caregiving demands. While findings underscore the promise of VR in improving psychosocial and emotional well-being, further research is required to address existing gaps, enhance accessibility, and ensure long-term efficacy especially in home-based (remote) environment. Despite these benefits, challenges such as high costs, technological barriers, and limited long-term data were noted.