Does virtual reality have a future in the medical field?
With its market expected to grow by nearly $5.1 billion by 2025, can VR modify the future of the medical field? How necessary will it be to incorporate it into the medical sector?
Introduction
Virtual reality technology helps in creating an immersive experience that is currently being used for educational purposes. Virtual reality is now an emerging technology for the medical field. Its applications are enormous. Virtual reality is used to train doctors, and medical students, for patient consultation, spreading awareness about the disease and available treatment to commoners, etc. It provides a 3-D report, aiding the doctors in the operation room.
Role of VR
1. For doctors
The VR enhances the visualization of both the interior and the exterior of a human body. It helps doctors and healthcare workers get a deeper understanding of the human body. This will, in turn, aid in providing better quality treatment with fewer expenses. It also assists surgeons plan out surgeries and explain the process to both the medical team and their patients.
2. For patients
The advancement in VR also helps patients and guides them in understanding medical procedures. The VR provides run through on the patient’s operation process, giving them a complete understanding of their condition through the 360° VR reconstruction.
It also aids in managing conditions like pain, managing depression, managing anxiety, and even managing hypertension. In a small controlled study, the VR technology was able to drop patients’ average self-reported pain scores from 5.4 to 4.1. A 2D distraction experience in the control group only dropped that score to 4.8.[1]
VRPhysio is a Boston-based company that offers immersive, interactive virtual reality environments that trick patients into doing physical therapy exercises without even knowing it.
The VR can be used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. This is done by inducing situations where the case of PTSD is virtually projected to the patient. The situation presented to the patient is leveled and the progress in each level is analyzed to give creditable data about the patient’s recovery.
In one study of low back pain and fibromyalgia, VR reduced discomfort by more than 30%.[2]
Recently VR assisted surgeons have proven to have a higher success rate. A report from the Osso VR’s study in August 2019 conducted by David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles shows that there is a 230% improvement in the participants’ overall surgical performance when planned with the company’s VR training.
VR is being used to explain the medical procedure to the patients so that they can make informed decisions on the kind of treatment that they want to proceed with in the future. It helps the patient to know their operation’s process and its impact of it on their health. It helps patients understand the impact their daily life has on their health and the possible prevention measures.
It also helps the medical students and others practicing medicine in the learning process. It provides a more in-depth understanding of human anatomy. The VR helps the medical professors to give the medical students with an opportunity for virtual learning. In case there is any problem in the surgery, the information provided by the VR helps to identify it and prevent a similar situation from occurring in the future. It lowers the medical cost.
Limitations
- The software and equipment used for the VR are expensive.
- VR has proven to be very complex for users, especially those in the medical field who don’t have any prior education on VR technology.
- Patients take the decision provided by the VR too seriously and lose trust in the doctors.
- Some patients don’t approve of the use of VR for their treatment.
Future prospects
- VR/AR healthcare may revolutionize diagnostic practice is carried out to view MRI and CT images.
- Diagnostic imaging in oncology.
- The live streaming of breakthrough surgeries, as well the potential for patient monitoring and care, presents a huge market opportunity.
- Minimally invasive surgeries can be bettered through virtual and augmented reality enlarged 3D versions of vital organs. They also help carry out complex surgeries seamlessly.
Conclusion
When used with proper care and detailed understanding, VR can provide revolutionary results in the medical field and aid in improving the treatment provided. It can help in dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, treating conversion disorder (functional neurological symptom disorder), Smoking Cessation, etc. They, therefore, have a potential future in medicine and medical research.
