[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":332},["ShallowReactive",2],{"slug-top-examples-of-gamification-in-healthcare":3},{"post":4,"relatedPosts":191,"relatedBooks":331},{"id":5,"date":6,"date_gmt":7,"guid":8,"modified":10,"modified_gmt":11,"slug":12,"status":13,"type":14,"link":15,"title":16,"content":18,"excerpt":21,"author":23,"featured_media":24,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":26,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":29,"categories":30,"tags":34,"project_category":48,"contact_email_category":49,"yst_prominent_words":50,"class_list":61,"better_featured_image":84,"acf":121,"yoast_meta":135,"_links":138},16043,"2024-10-28T13:18:57","2024-10-28T12:18:57",{"rendered":9},"http:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?p=16043","2024-10-28T13:19:02","2024-10-28T12:19:02","top-examples-of-gamification-in-healthcare","publish","post","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ftop-examples-of-gamification-in-healthcare",{"rendered":17},"The Top Examples of Gamification in Healthcare",{"rendered":19,"protected":20},"\n\u003Cp>If you measure your daily step count or raise a virtual plant to drink more water a day, you already fell victim of the charms of gamification. Is it bad news? On the contrary! Gamified apps, devices, and therapies will gradually appear in every field of healthcare making behavior change easier and more fun. Here are the greatest examples of gamification!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Why is it so hard to change?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Sequin dresses, champagne and smiling faces counting down to the new year. Some kisses here and some resolutions there. This time, Samantha thought everything will be different. She made a resolution every year to change her lifestyle into something fitter but she could not make a lasting change in the long run. But this time, she was absolutely determined. In the first weeks of January, she bought new shoes and active wear, she started to spinning class twice a week and promised herself a biking weekend as a reward in the spring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>But then in February, Jim’s birthday celebration collided with her work out session, so she missed it out. Afterward, her mom needed to be brought to the hospital due to chest pains, while another time her fridge broke and needed to wait for the technician. March was already upon her when she realized – she does not go to the gym anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Her story is one of ours, no matter whether it’s about sports, eating, reading more or working less. I spoke to Jurriaan van Rijswijk, Chairman of the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamesforhealtheurope.org\u002F\">Games for Health Europe\u003C\u002Fa> Foundation, about why it is so hard to adopt new habits. The gamification expert said that motivation is one factor in changing behavior, but loyalty towards the subject of change is something people usually don’t consider. The money versus time issue is often why desired long–term behavioral change fails. So instead of trying to buy your way into change with sport clothing items or pricey devices, at first, you should start spending time exercising with limited resources and technology. Then gradually the new behavior becomes valuable, and you will spend more and more of your valuable time doing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"580\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fcore-collective-gym-kensington-waind-gohil-and-potter-architects.jpg\" alt=\"Gamification in healthcare\" class=\"wp-image-16044\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fcore-collective-gym-kensington-waind-gohil-and-potter-architects.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fcore-collective-gym-kensington-waind-gohil-and-potter-architects-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fcore-collective-gym-kensington-waind-gohil-and-potter-architects-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fcore-collective-gym-kensington-waind-gohil-and-potter-architects-375x250.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Technology can be your coach supporting lasting change\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The key to success is time commitment or loyalty to the subject. Both are really hard to reach, but there are factors making it easier. Some people are motivated by the feeling of community and socializing, others by getting rewards for certain achievements, competing against others, looking at data and measurements about small successes or making the whole process fun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Technology can combine many of these factors and could become a resource liberating tool helping us spend more time on the desired goal. I have been \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-one-year-excel-spreadsheet-experiment-that-changed-my-life\u002F\">measuring my health parameters and vital signs for years\u003C\u002Fa>. I know that sometimes I run for another ten minutes just to beat my score from yesterday. However, there are many people for whom it is not enough motivation if you show their raw data, they need challenges, rewards or some community. Gamification can do the trick for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"674\" height=\"870\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fvirtual-trainer.jpg\" alt=\"Gamification in healthcare\" class=\"wp-image-16048\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fvirtual-trainer.jpg 674w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fvirtual-trainer-397x512.jpg 397w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fvirtual-trainer-194x250.jpg 194w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fvirtual-trainer-768x992.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 674px) 100vw, 674px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>A new buzzword: Gamification in healthcare\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Game play focuses and controls our attention, taps into our innate strengths, thrills us utterly, and compels us to greater resilience in the attainment of more powerful and effective skills. That’s why many believe it is perfect for behavior change in healthcare. A game is more than the automatic collector of vital signs and notifications. Gamified services engage us, keep us motivated and helps us down the bumpy road of change. It’s the combination of a great buddy and a considerate parent. That’s why I believe gamified solutions will spread like epidemics in healthcare as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>But it is really difficult to find the right balance for digital tools to act as sources of motivation not turning into burdensome constraints or “digital whips”. Years ago, Fitbit announced that it was partnering with employers, corporations to track employees and mine that data in order to monitor employee health habits. Fitbit was introduced way before in several companies as “the corporate fitness tracker” creating common challenges and competitions for employees – which is fun and motivating. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In an interview, Adam Pellegrini, VP of Digital Health for Fitbit told me that \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.houstonmethodist.org\u002F\">Houston Methodist\u003C\u002Fa> implemented a month-long step challenge where employees went head to head with their departmental CEOs. Average daily step count to beat was 16,000! Now that’s what I call a challenge!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fgamification-in-healthcare.jpg\" alt=\"Gamification in Healthcare\" class=\"wp-image-16049\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fgamification-in-healthcare.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fgamification-in-healthcare-768x450.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fgamification-in-healthcare-512x300.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fgamification-in-healthcare-427x250.jpg 427w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>But imagine that your boss knows about your fitness goals, sees your data – and has the capacity to forward it to the health insurance company deciding about your premiums! Imagine that you are making a lot of effort to lose weight but still your employer considers that it is not enough… Where are the boundaries of a motivating tool? How far could employers, moreover health insurance companies go when it comes down to the health or fitness issues of their employers or users? Complex and difficult questions which need to be answered soon!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Great game design is difficult\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As you could already discern from the above, game design is a very difficult area. You need something which pulls you in but does not make you toxically addicted, which is fun but also informative, which creates achievable but not that easy challenges. Not to speak about the most problematic part of a gamified device or app: its ability to achieve lasting change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>There was \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.imedicalapps.com\u002F2016\u002F12\u002Fpokemon-go-gamification-study\u002F\">a study\u003C\u002Fa> which examined the effects of Pokémon Go. Shortly after the release of the little monster hunting adventure, there was a lot of enthusiasm that it would be a healthy addiction by getting users more active. Pokémon Go players’ steps went up from an average of 4256 steps per day to 5123 steps in the first week of playing the game. After that, though, there was a gradual decline back to where they started by the sixth week. That pattern was consistent across various subgroups based on neighborhood walkability, income level, age, and more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, there are good examples of apps and services that provide motivation, rewards and reinforce commitment. If we respect the fact that it will only work when participation is voluntary and self-motivated, they could really help in achieving great things. Here, I collected some of the most widely known game-based digital technologies in healthcare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"489\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fgame-design.jpg\" alt=\"Game Design - Gamification in Healthcare\" class=\"wp-image-16050\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fgame-design.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fgame-design-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fgame-design-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fgame-design-512x288.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fgame-design-444x250.jpg 444w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>1) Physical fitness\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I already mentioned \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ffitbit-helped-change-lifestyle-great-fitbit-surge-review\u002F\">Fitbit & Co\u003C\u002Fa>: how common challenges can be set up through the Fitbit community interfaces and how competition could motivate better gym performances and step counts. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Feverymove.org\u002F\">EveryMove\u003C\u002Fa> also counts on your competitiveness. It collects data from trackers and apps we already use to allow friends to compare one another’s progress. Social motivation, such as seeing that my friends went for a run today but I haven’t yet, is a strong one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.blueshieldca.com\u002F\">Blue Shield California\u003C\u002Fa>, a not–for–profit health insurer, attempts to make wellness fun via social media. Participants earn points, badges, status, and see their progress. Blue Shield claims that 80 per cent of its employees have participated, and had a 50 per cent drop in smoking prevalence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"378\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fgamification-challenge.jpg\" alt=\"Gamification in healthcare\" class=\"wp-image-16051\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fgamification-challenge.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fgamification-challenge-768x334.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fgamification-challenge-512x222.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fgamification-challenge-458x199.jpg 458w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>2) Medication and chronic condition management\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.news-medical.net\u002FDIDGET-Blood-Glucose-Meter-Plugs-into-Nintendo-DS-from-Bayer\">Bayer’s Didget blood glucose meter\u003C\u002Fa>, which connects to a Nintendo DS gaming platform, is intended for kids between 4 to 14. It helps manage their diabetes by rewarding them for consistent blood glucose testing. As points accumulate, new game levels and options unlock. There are leader boards with kids who collected the most points, web games and an online community as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The Austrian startup, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmysugr.com\u002F\">mySugr\u003C\u002Fa> also offers its gamified solutions for diabetes management in a fun way both for children (mySugr Junior app) and adults. As the creator of the cute diabetes monster, mySugr has already over a million registered users, is available in 52 countries and in 13 different languages. It was later acquired by the global pharmaceutical company, Roche.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none; overflow: hidden;\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Fplugins\u002Fvideo.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmedicalfuturist%2Fvideos%2F1343610725733559%2F&show_text=0&width=560\" width=\"560\" height=\"500\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>3) Gamification for kids\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It is especially important to apply gamification for medical solutions aimed at children as they usually do not understand the importance of therapies or drugs for their health, in the long run, they just consider the short-term miseries. They do not want to swallow bitter pills or eat vegetables, do not want to go to therapy or stay in the hospital. Gamification can help forget kids that they are undergoing therapy or medical treatment. If they believe they are swallowing the secret of a long-gone civilization with the pill and only their enteric bacteria could decipher that code, they would gladly take any drug.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For example, the American Red Cross developed an \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.redcross.org\u002Fmonsterguard\">app called Monster Guard\u003C\u002Fa> focused on helping prepare children for emergencies. It teaches kids through “Monster Guard Academy” how to prepare and stay safe during home fires, hurricanes, floods or other disasters, and they get points and medals for completing tasks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Raising a health-focused and fit child is also easier through gamification. Smartwatches made for them encourage kids to stay on the move. Kids can gather points and other rewards while staying physically active.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>4) Physical therapy and rehabilitation\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>After a serious injury or a stroke, it is difficult and time-consuming to reach even an agreeable level of independence regarding movement or other activity. If you have trouble imagining what it’s like to tackle everyday challenges after waking up from an accident, try the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.imedicalapps.com\u002F2016\u002F05\u002Fsci-hard-gaming-spinal-cord-injuries\u002F\">SCI Hard gaming app\u003C\u002Fa> developed by the University of Michigan. Gamified therapies could help in making rehabilitation more fun, stretching abilities playfully and divert attention from pain. Reflexion Health uses a video feedback system to correct the movements of patients practice physical therapy based exercises. The system works in patients’ homes. Movements are modeled by animated figures. Motion guided technology compares patients’ movements with those of the models and gives guidance and correction suggestions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A Canadian company, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.gesturetekhealth.com\u002F\">GestureTek Health\u003C\u002Fa> develops applications specific to health, disability, and rehabilitation. Its VR exercise programs enable patients to have fun while stretching their physical and cognitive capabilities. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mindmaze.com\u002F\">MindMaze\u003C\u002Fa> created devices, which use virtual reality, brain imaging and gaming technologies to retrain the brain in stroke victims. It also works on solutions for spinal cord injury and amputee patients.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"MindMaze offers "thought-powered" VR\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002Fyus_YRVMfCk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In the medical world, compliance is the word that is used to describe to what extent patients abide themselves by the therapy. Yet, as patients are more and more empowered, the expression becomes more and more offending as it assumes that patients are blindly following the doctor’s commands and do not follow recommendations voluntarily. Instead, they want to actively take part in their health, they want the patient-doctor relationship to be on an equal level. Instead of compliance, they want to be motivated on the long-run.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>With digital health powered healthcare in the future, gamification will be the help already motivated patients need in order to stick to therapies without burdening efforts.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFIbMejImnxs\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",false,{"rendered":22,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>If you measure your daily step count or raise a virtual plant to drink more water a day, you already fell victim of the charms of gamification. Is it bad news? On the contrary! Gamified apps, devices, and therapies will gradually appear in every field of healthcare making behavior change easier and more fun. Here are the greatest examples of gamification!\u003C\u002Fp>\n",6,16054,"closed",true,"","standard",{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[31,32,33],496,499,494,[35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47],355,425,452,453,203,225,246,522,275,641,289,714,313,[],[],[51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60],1593,1617,1631,1683,1883,2165,2987,3211,3607,1571,[62,14,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83],"post-16043","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-sensors-trackers","category-healthcare-design","category-telemedicine","tag-personalized-medicine","tag-technology-2","tag-wearable","tag-wearables-2","tag-diabetes","tag-education","tag-future","tag-gc3","tag-healthcare","tag-gamification","tag-innovation","tag-games","tag-medicine",{"id":24,"alt_text":85,"caption":27,"description":27,"media_type":86,"media_details":87,"post":5,"source_url":120},"Gamification in Healthcare","image",{"width":88,"height":89,"file":90,"sizes":91,"image_meta":117},870,580,"2017\u002F07\u002Fvector-gamification-concept.jpg",{"medium":92,"large":98,"thumbnail":103,"medium_large":107,"large_old_512x341":108,"medium_old_375x250":112},{"file":93,"width":94,"height":95,"mime-type":96,"source_url":97},"vector-gamification-concept-370x208.jpg",370,208,"image\u002Fjpeg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fvector-gamification-concept-370x208.jpg",{"file":99,"width":100,"height":101,"mime-type":96,"source_url":102},"vector-gamification-concept-768x512.jpg",768,512,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fvector-gamification-concept-768x512.jpg",{"file":104,"width":105,"height":105,"mime-type":96,"source_url":106},"vector-gamification-concept-150x150.jpg",150,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fvector-gamification-concept-150x150.jpg",{"file":99,"width":100,"height":101,"mime-type":96,"source_url":102},{"file":109,"width":101,"height":110,"mime-type":96,"source_url":111},"vector-gamification-concept-512x341.jpg",341,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fvector-gamification-concept-512x341.jpg",{"file":113,"width":114,"height":115,"mime-type":96,"source_url":116},"vector-gamification-concept-375x250.jpg",375,250,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fvector-gamification-concept-375x250.jpg",{"aperture":118,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":118,"copyright":27,"focal_length":118,"iso":118,"shutter_speed":118,"title":27,"orientation":118,"keywords":119},"0",[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fvector-gamification-concept.jpg",{"related_posts":122,"related_posts_footer":126,"cta_type":27,"cta_color":27,"subtitle":27,"related_books":20,"key_takeaways":130},[123,124,125],21271,16166,20673,[127,128,129],17093,15518,17731,[131,133],{"title":132},"\u003Cp>Gamification is the process of adding games or gamelike elements to a task or a process to encourage participation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":134},"\u003Cp>Gamified apps, devices, and therapies will gradually appear in every field of healthcare making behavior change easier and more fun. Here are the greatest examples of gamification!\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"yoast_wpseo_title":136,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":137,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":15},"The Top Examples of Gamification in Healthcare - The Medical Futurist","Gamified apps and devices will appear in every field making behavior change easier and fun. Here are the greatest examples of gamification in healthcare!",{"self":139,"collection":145,"about":148,"author":151,"replies":154,"version-history":157,"predecessor-version":161,"wp:featuredmedia":165,"wp:attachment":168,"wp:term":171,"curies":187},[140],{"href":141,"targetHints":142},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F16043",{"allow":143},[144],"GET",[146],{"href":147},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts",[149],{"href":150},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftypes\u002Fpost",[152],{"embeddable":26,"href":153},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fusers\u002F6",[155],{"embeddable":26,"href":156},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=16043",[158],{"count":159,"href":160},24,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F16043\u002Frevisions",[162],{"id":163,"href":164},58091,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F16043\u002Frevisions\u002F58091",[166],{"embeddable":26,"href":167},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F16054",[169],{"href":170},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=16043",[172,175,178,181,184],{"taxonomy":173,"embeddable":26,"href":174},"category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=16043",{"taxonomy":176,"embeddable":26,"href":177},"post_tag","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=16043",{"taxonomy":179,"embeddable":26,"href":180},"project_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=16043",{"taxonomy":182,"embeddable":26,"href":183},"contact_email_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=16043",{"taxonomy":185,"embeddable":26,"href":186},"yst_prominent_words","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=16043",[188],{"name":189,"href":190,"templated":26},"wp","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.w.org\u002F{rel}",[192],{"id":129,"date":193,"date_gmt":194,"guid":195,"modified":197,"modified_gmt":198,"slug":199,"status":13,"type":14,"link":200,"title":201,"content":203,"excerpt":205,"author":23,"featured_media":207,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":26,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":208,"categories":209,"tags":212,"project_category":223,"contact_email_category":224,"yst_prominent_words":225,"class_list":233,"better_featured_image":247,"acf":277,"yoast_meta":286,"_links":289},"2018-04-24T22:40:09","2018-04-24T20:40:09",{"rendered":196},"http:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?p=17731","2022-05-25T17:41:38","2022-05-25T15:41:38","how-does-medical-virtual-reality-make-healthcare-more-pleasant","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fhow-does-medical-virtual-reality-make-healthcare-more-pleasant",{"rendered":202},"How Does Medical Virtual Reality Make Healthcare More Pleasant?",{"rendered":204,"protected":20},"\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"5px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp style=\"color: #555;font-size: 12px;line-height: 14px\">THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2018. THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, BUT IT MAY BE OUT OF DATE NOW. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fmagazine\">BROWSE OUR LATEST ARTICLES HERE\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003C\u002Ftbody>\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Medical virtual reality goes entirely against conventional beliefs about technology making healthcare less human, less empathetic and less caring. Virtual reality teaches empathy to med students, makes vaccination for children more sufferable, helps get rid of fears by treating phobias, relieves chronic pain or fulfills the last wishes of the dying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003C!--more-->\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>The many faces of medical virtual reality\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Although the use of virtual reality in healthcare is not widespread yet, the technology holds great promise. Goldman Sachs \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.goldmansachs.com\u002Four-thinking\u002Fpages\u002Ftechnology-driving-innovation-folder\u002Fvirtual-and-augmented-reality\u002Freport.pdf\">estimated in its 2016 report\u003C\u002Fa> that 8 million physicians and medical technicians could make use of augmented reality or virtual reality products worldwide – and the number of users could grow from an estimated 0.8 million in 2020 to 3.4 million until 2025. \u003Cstrong>Medical education, surgery, rehabilitation medicine, psychiatry, and psychology could all benefit from VR\u003C\u002Fstrong>. As a doctor, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.medicalrealities.com\u002F\">you could assist in the OR\u003C\u002Fa> without ever lifting a scalpel or prepare for complex surgeries efficiently. As a medical student, you could \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.edtechmagazine.com\u002Fhigher\u002Farticle\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fthree-ways-med-students-can-use-virtual-reality\">study the human body more closely\u003C\u002Fa> and get ready for real-life operations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, patients will benefit the most. Virtual reality can support better management of chronic pain, can treat fears and phobias or help survive medical events, from as painful as childbirth until vaccination. For example, not only does virtual reality make \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.jpost.com\u002FIsrael-News\u002FSports\u002FA-virtual-breakthrough-in-sports-rehabilitation-480664\">rehabilitation from neck, spinal or other injuries faster and easier\u003C\u002Fa>, but \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bloomberg.com\u002Fnews\u002Farticles\u002F2016-08-29\u002Fhospitals-try-giving-patients-a-dose-of-vr\">you could escape the confinement of your hospital room\u003C\u002Fa> and travel to Iceland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>These cases all illustrate that medical VR is an excellent tool for addressing the issues that make the healthcare journey for patients more agreeable: \u003Cstrong>alleviating pain, dissipating fear, offering more empathy and care\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Here, we collected the best examples how the technology could make healthcare more pleasant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-17735\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"474\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fvrforhealthcare_mediumcover_1640x894.jpg\" alt=\"medical virtual reality\" class=\"wp-image-17735\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fvrforhealthcare_mediumcover_1640x894.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fvrforhealthcare_mediumcover_1640x894-768x418.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fvrforhealthcare_mediumcover_1640x894-512x279.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fvrforhealthcare_mediumcover_1640x894-458x250.jpg 458w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: stambol.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>1) Teaching empathy to med students\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Although medical students leaning over thick volumes of anatomy might not share this view at earlier stages of their studies, but one of the most challenging parts of being a doctor is mastering the patient-doctor communication. Empathy is an indispensable tool here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>„\u003Cem>Whether out of dignity or shock, silence usually reigns, and so holding a patient’s hand becomes the mode of communication\u003C\u002Fem>,” writes Paul Kalanithi in his absolutely and utterly beautiful book \u003Cem>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.goodreads.com\u002Fbook\u002Fshow\u002F25899336-when-breath-becomes-air\">When Breath Becomes Air\u003C\u002Fa>;\u003C\u002Fem> as he had to talk to a patient after brain surgery about chemotherapy, radiation, and prognosis for brain tumor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Delivering difficult news\u003C\u002Fstrong> being it about a cancer diagnosis or the death of the patient to the family \u003Cstrong>requires enormous strength of mind and empathy from the doctor\u003C\u002Fstrong>, but also appropriate practice. That is where VR comes into the picture. Researchers from \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.sciencedaily.com\u002Freleases\u002F2017\u002F04\u002F170427091749.htm\">Medical Cyberworlds Inc. and the University of Michigan conducted research with 421 medical students\u003C\u002Fa> about the use of virtual reality in patient-doctor communication. They used the \u003Cstrong>Mpathic-VR technology that allowed users to talk with emotive, computer-based virtual humans who can see, hear and react to them in real time\u003C\u002Fstrong>. The virtual humans used a full range of behaviors expected of two people talking together. Applying this technique in future curriculums, med students could practice difficult conversations before going out and experiencing them in real life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"MPathic Demo\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FYJOd2bQv8sU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>2) Making vaccination more tolerable\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>No one likes to get vaccinated. Many people have a fear of needles, while plenty of others cannot get themselves diverted from the experienced pain. The \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fpediatrics.aappublications.org\u002Fcontent\u002Fearly\u002F2016\u002F08\u002F25\u002Fpeds.2016-2127?sso=1&sso_redirect_count=1&nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token\">American Academy of Pediatrics even found in its August 2016 study\u003C\u002Fa> that \u003Cstrong>one of the reasons parents delay vaccinating\u003C\u002Fstrong> their children is due to concerns of discomfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It is interesting to see how doctors employ certain strategies to help patients. They tell them to look at specific spots, tell stories or jokes. For example, an Austrian doctor treating arthritis patients used to tell jokes about football while using painkiller injection on the treated knee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The examples of a pilot study and a Brazilian hospital show that there is an even more efficient way to make needles and vaccination more tolerable. In \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.mobihealthnews.com\u002Fcontent\u002Fpilot-study-shows-vr-goggles-reduce-fear-pain-children-during-vaccination\">a study of 244 children at Sansum Clinic locations in Santa Barbara and Lompoc, California\u003C\u002Fa>, roughly half of the children were given \u003Cstrong>virtual reality goggles to view ocean scenes while getting their seasonal flu shot\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Parents reported that their sons and daughters experienced 48 percent less pain and 52 percent less fear, and the clinicians mentioned even higher numbers – \u003Cstrong>75 percent less pain and 71 percent less fear\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The Hermes Pardini Laboratories’ VR Vaccine campaign battles children’s fear of taking vaccine shots wonderfully. Children can immerse themselves in the virtual world of a lively cartoon where they can feel like superheroes building a shield against monsters by getting the “Fire Fruit” – the actual shot in reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Virtual reality transforms the experience of child vaccine\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FVgCPMkNlkSI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>3) Mitigating fear and traumas\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Are you afraid of giant tarantulas crawling on your back? Do you have a fear of heights, so you get the cold sweat when you have to climb to the top floor of your office building? Virtual reality offers a new way to get rid of fears and phobias.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The immersive environment re-creates the fearful situation for patients – but it also offers them a safe place to get over their fears: they are under the control of physicians, and they can get out of the simulation any time. The Spanish and American behavioral health technology company, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.psious.com\u002F\">Psious\u003C\u002Fa> offers this unique VR treatment for psychological conditions such as fear of flying, needles, various animals, public speaking, general anxiety or agoraphobia. \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.virtuallybetter.com\u002F\">Virtually Better\u003C\u002Fa>, the pioneering VR company founded in 1996, offers among others an exposure \u003Cstrong>therapy for people suffering from anxiety disorders, specific phobias or post-traumatic stress syndrome\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A research team at the University of Southern California developed a project called \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fmedvr.ict.usc.edu\u002Fprojects\u002Fbravemind\u002F\">Bravemind\u003C\u002Fa>, another VR exposure therapy for soldiers to gradually immerse them into the virtual environment similar to the one where they got traumatized to help them process their feelings associated with their traumas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"356\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fvirtual-reality-and-phobias.jpg\" alt=\"medical virtual reality\" class=\"wp-image-17734\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fvirtual-reality-and-phobias.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fvirtual-reality-and-phobias-768x314.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fvirtual-reality-and-phobias-512x210.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fvirtual-reality-and-phobias-458x188.jpg 458w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>4) Giving birth easier and managing chronic pain\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Delivering a baby is a process of enduring long hours of pain with the euphoric moments of birth. Virtual reality might \u003Cstrong>help women distract themselves and divert their attention towards proper breathing and a spot to focus on\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Erin Bratton Martucci, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Ftechnology\u002F2016\u002Fdec\u002F09\u002Fvirtual-reality-childbirth-pain-relief\">the first woman, experiencing childbirth through VR\u003C\u002Fa> told The Medical Futurist that it had a genuinely calming effect on her – she didn’t even realize she was already wearing the VR goggles for two hours before the doctor took them off of her. She explained that she wanted to deliver her baby girl drug-free, didn’t want to have an epidural, so when her doctor offered the VR option, she and her husband said, why not. Although it was already two years ago, she recounts the beach scene and the calming voice as if it was yesterday, and she would try it again without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Being immersed in a VR environment helps not only women in labor but also \u003Cstrong>patients experiencing chronic pain – a debilitating and frustrating experience\u003C\u002Fstrong> which was exclusively manageable by painkillers in the past. This situation seems to change with the help of VR. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fvirtual-reality-used-clinical-practice\u002F\">Brennan Spiegel and his team at the Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles introduced VR worlds to their patients\u003C\u002Fa> to \u003Cstrong>help them release stress and reduce pain\u003C\u002Fstrong>. In \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fmental.jmir.org\u002F2017\u002F1\u002Fe9\u002F\">a recent clinical trial,\u003C\u002Fa> out of 100 people who self-reported persistent, daily pain, half had the chance to play a VR game called Bear Blast. The other half got to watch 2-D relaxation videos of lakes and babbling brooks. While they \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wired.com\u002Fstory\u002Fopioids-havent-solved-chronic-pain-maybe-virtual-reality-can\u002F\">experienced a small bit of relief, the VR group reported feeling 25 percent less pain than when they started.\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-17732\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"653\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fsoldier-using-vr-to-manage-pain.jpg\" alt=\"medical virtual reality\" class=\"wp-image-17732\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fsoldier-using-vr-to-manage-pain.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fsoldier-using-vr-to-manage-pain-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fsoldier-using-vr-to-manage-pain-512x384.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fsoldier-using-vr-to-manage-pain-333x250.jpg 333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Soldier Using VR to Manage Pain. Source: vrtherapynews.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>5) Making dying patients’ last wishes come true\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>David Parker, an IT consultant from Toronto, uses the power of virtual reality to bring joy to palliative care patients. He lets \u003Cstrong>bedridden patients get out of their beds virtually and travel around the world\u003C\u002Fstrong>. As a result of his efforts, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.himssinsights.eu\u002Ftransporting-canadian-patients-virtually\">Bridgepoint Health and Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, has introduced virtual reality headsets\u003C\u002Fa> in their palliative care programmes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>No matter whether people want to go to Africa, see the Northern Lights or experience scuba-diving, Parker finds \u003Cstrong>a way for people to cross items off their bucket list with the help of VR\u003C\u002Fstrong>. There were even patients who already “traveled” with VR \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.cbc.ca\u002Fnews\u002Fcanada\u002Ftoronto\u002Fpalliative-care-virtual-reality-1.4254087\">more than once and keep going back for the experience.\u003C\u002Fa> David Parker \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.himssinsights.eu\u002Ftransporting-canadian-patients-virtually\">told HIMMS Insights Europe\u003C\u002Fa> that it is powerful because \u003Cem>it takes you out of your environment, your hospital room, and immerses you in other settings\u003C\u002Fem>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-17733\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"580\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fhospice-patients-bucket-list.jpg\" alt=\"medical virtual reality\" class=\"wp-image-17733\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fhospice-patients-bucket-list.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fhospice-patients-bucket-list-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fhospice-patients-bucket-list-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fhospice-patients-bucket-list-375x250.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: artsy.net\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFIbMejImnxs\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":206,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>Medical virtual reality goes entirely against conventional beliefs about technology making healthcare less human, less empathetic and less caring. Virtual reality teaches empathy to med students, makes vaccination for children more sufferable, helps get rid of fears by treating phobias, relieves chronic pain or fulfills the last wishes of the dying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",17737,{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[210,211],521,514,[213,214,215,216,41,217,43,218,47,219,220,221,222],450,640,663,728,735,883,884,444,885,445,[],[],[226,227,228,229,230,231,55,232,53],1723,1725,1731,1741,1853,1857,2303,[234,14,63,64,65,66,67,235,236,237,238,239,240,77,241,79,242,83,243,244,245,246],"post-17731","category-future-medicine","category-virtual-reality","tag-vr","tag-psychology","tag-pain-management","tag-empathy","tag-chronic-pain","tag-trauma","tag-vaccination","tag-virtual","tag-pediatrics","tag-virtual-reality",{"id":207,"alt_text":248,"caption":27,"description":27,"media_type":86,"media_details":249,"post":129,"source_url":276},"medical virtual reality",{"width":88,"height":250,"file":251,"sizes":252,"image_meta":274},373,"2018\u002F04\u002Fvr-in-healthcare.png",{"medium":253,"large":257,"thumbnail":261,"medium_large":264,"large_old_512x220":265,"medium_old_458x196":269},{"file":254,"width":94,"height":95,"mime-type":255,"source_url":256},"vr-in-healthcare-370x208.png","image\u002Fpng","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fvr-in-healthcare-370x208.png",{"file":258,"width":100,"height":259,"mime-type":255,"source_url":260},"vr-in-healthcare-768x329.png",329,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fvr-in-healthcare-768x329.png",{"file":262,"width":105,"height":105,"mime-type":255,"source_url":263},"vr-in-healthcare-150x150.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fvr-in-healthcare-150x150.png",{"file":258,"width":100,"height":259,"mime-type":255,"source_url":260},{"file":266,"width":101,"height":267,"mime-type":255,"source_url":268},"vr-in-healthcare-512x220.png",220,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fvr-in-healthcare-512x220.png",{"file":270,"width":271,"height":272,"mime-type":255,"source_url":273},"vr-in-healthcare-458x196.png",458,196,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fvr-in-healthcare-458x196.png",{"aperture":118,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":118,"copyright":27,"focal_length":118,"iso":118,"shutter_speed":118,"title":27,"orientation":118,"keywords":275},[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F04\u002Fvr-in-healthcare.png",{"related_posts":278,"related_posts_footer":282,"cta_type":27,"cta_color":27,"subtitle":27,"related_books":20},[279,280,281],17741,15503,15375,[283,284,285],13373,14811,17232,{"yoast_wpseo_title":287,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":288,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":200},"How Does Medical Virtual Reality Make Healthcare More Pleasant? - The Medical Futurist","Medical virtual reality goes against conventional beliefs about technology making healthcare less human, less empathetic and less caring. Here's how.",{"self":290,"collection":295,"about":297,"author":299,"replies":301,"version-history":304,"predecessor-version":308,"wp:featuredmedia":312,"wp:attachment":315,"wp:term":318,"curies":329},[291],{"href":292,"targetHints":293},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F17731",{"allow":294},[144],[296],{"href":147},[298],{"href":150},[300],{"embeddable":26,"href":153},[302],{"embeddable":26,"href":303},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=17731",[305],{"count":306,"href":307},18,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F17731\u002Frevisions",[309],{"id":310,"href":311},46422,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F17731\u002Frevisions\u002F46422",[313],{"embeddable":26,"href":314},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F17737",[316],{"href":317},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=17731",[319,321,323,325,327],{"taxonomy":173,"embeddable":26,"href":320},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=17731",{"taxonomy":176,"embeddable":26,"href":322},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=17731",{"taxonomy":179,"embeddable":26,"href":324},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=17731",{"taxonomy":182,"embeddable":26,"href":326},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=17731",{"taxonomy":185,"embeddable":26,"href":328},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=17731",[330],{"name":189,"href":190,"templated":26},[],1786260375209]