Moffitt Cancer Center & Ringling College Use VR to Enhance Patient Experience

Ringling College of Art and Design and Moffitt Cancer Center presented an update on new developments from their collaborative INDEX Virtual Reality (VR) project to enhance the cancer patient experience and improve the accuracy of MRI-guided Radiation Therapy (MRgRT).

The Ringling College INDEX program is an experiential education initiative that provides students the opportunity to gain industry experience prior to graduation by connecting them with leading brands and clients to develop creative solutions to business challenges. The Moffitt/Ringling College partnership began in 2019 to explore the creation of meaningful digital technologies to help decrease stress and enhance understanding for newly diagnosed patients during their journey and discover new ways in which to train and coach patients through diagnosis and treatment.

“Patient stress levels at the time of a cancer diagnosis are very high, and core to addressing some of that stress is reducing fear of the unknown. In my practice, we need to deliver highly precise treatment so patient cooperation is essential. To be able to deliver immersive content through VR headsets can serve to alleviate some of that stress by allowing a new patient to virtually walk-through the experience before beginning their treatment,” said program visionary Sarah Hoffe, M.D., Moffitt Cancer Center’s section head of Gastrointestinal Radiation Oncology.

“We worked with Dr. Hoffe and the team to identify areas in which VR could make a significant difference in improving treatment outcomes, and one we focused on was how to train patients to hold their breath and be still and calm during an MRI Linear Accelerator cancer treatment,” said Ringling College Virtual Reality Development senior Joseph Janssen.

“As the patient breathes in and out during MRI radiation therapy, a tumor and surrounding healthy tissues can shift in position, so it’s very important to encourage patient stillness and train them in holding their breath during the beam activity. To make the tech applicable to all, especially patients unfamiliar with VR, we gamified the process and simplified the control inputs so that one controller is fastened to their chests – to monitor breathing – and the patient uses the integral headset laser to select simplified menu options to explore the mechanics and train in the breathing game. And, while undergoing treatment they are also able to choose from calming scenarios we developed to assist in relaxation during the breath-holding period,” Joseph concluded.

“We look forward to continuing this exploration of the intersection of VR with the cancer patient journey and hope to expand this work further so that our patients can virtually receive care before they do so in real life,” said program visionary Sarah Hoffe, M.D., Moffitt Cancer Center’s section head of Gastrointestinal Radiation Oncology. “We believe by offering them a virtual journey first we can decrease their fear and anxiety and ensure they are optimally prepared for their treatment experience.”