A Reflection on Virtual Reality Design for Psychological, Cognitive and Behavioral Interventions: Design Needs, Opportunities and Challenges

ABSTRACT

Despite the substantial research interest in using Virtual Reality (VR) in healthcare in general and in Psychological, Cognitive, and Behavioral (PC&B) interventions in specific, as well as emerging research supporting the efficacy of VR in healthcare, the design process of translating therapies into VR to meet the needs of critical stakeholders such as users and clinicians is rarely addressed. In this paper, we aim to shed light onto the design needs, opportunities and challenges in designing efficient and effective PC&B-VR interventions. Through analyzing the co-design processes of four user-centered PC&B-VR interventions, we examined how therapies were adapted into VR to meet stakeholders’ requirements, explored design elements for meaningful experiences, and investigated how the understanding of healthcare contexts contribute to the VR intervention design. This paper presents the HCI research community with design opportunities and challenges as well as future directions for PC&B-VR intervention design.

Disclosure of potential conflict of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. https://painstudieslab.com/vr-guidelines/

2. https://developer.oculus.com/design/

3. https://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/gear-vr/

4. https://www.qsrinternational.com/nvivo-qualitative-data-analysis-software

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Luma Tabbaa

Luma Tabbaa is a PhD candidate and a Lecturer in Digital Media at the School of Engineering & Digital Arts, University of Kent – UK. Her research interests include exploring the use of digital media and immersive technologies such as virtual reality in the field of mental health and wellbeing.

Chee Siang Ang

Chee Siang Ang is a Senior Lecturer in Multimedia and Digital Systems at the School of Engineering & Digital Arts, University of Kent – UK. His main research is in digital health, where he investigates, designs and develops technologies (i.e. immersive and sensing technologies) which provides treatment and self-management of health conditions.

Panote Siriaraya

Panote Siriaraya is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Information and Human Science, Kyoto Institute of Technology – Japan. His main research interest is in the field of Human-Computer Interaction and Machine learning, which includes topics such as Virtual Environments, Recommender Systems and Designing Technologies for the Aging population.

Wan Jou She

Wan Jou She has an interdisciplinary background in Human-Computer Interaction and Designed Intelligence, specializing in developing internet-based bereavement resources for individuals who wish to manage their grief and maintain continuing bonds with the deceased. She has a research interest in preventing the development of Prolonged Grief Disorder through technology.

Holly Gwen Prigerson

Holly Gwen Prigerson is an Irving Sherwood Wright Professor in Geriatrics in Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University – USA and has published over 300 research articles. Her current research lies in automated approaches to detect suicide attempt risk among bereaved individuals as well as exploring immersive technologies in supporting treatment and management.