Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40471326›Full record

ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2025

Immersive virtual nature for improving psychological distress of breast cancer patients undergoing intravenous chemotherapy.

Lucie Bachelard, Nathalie Blanc, Aude Michel

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Lucie BachelardEPSYLON laboratory, Montpellier University Paul-Valéry, Montpellier, EA 4556, France. lucie.bachelard@univ-montp3.fr.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-9356-5084
Nathalie Blanc *EPSYLON laboratory, Montpellier University Paul-Valéry, Montpellier, EA 4556, France.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1327-0280
Aude Michel *EPSYLON laboratory, Montpellier University Paul-Valéry, Montpellier, EA 4556, France.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-1263-1922

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeAlleviating psychological distress in women with breast cancer undergoing treatment is a major worldwide issue. The growing use of new technologies in healthcare to support patients requires a more in-depth appraisal of the optimal methods for delivering these interventions. The present study aims to explore the clinical potential of a 360° video of local landscapes to reduce psychological distress of breast cancer patients receiving intravenous chemotherapy. We presented the same content in two different viewing conditions (immersive vs. non-immersive) in order to isolate the specific effect of immersive technology.

methodsUsing a non-randomized parallel design, 42 patients were allocated in two groups and watched the 11-min video during chemotherapy, either via a head-mounted display (n = 22, immersive group) or a tablet (n = 20, non-immersive group). Data were collected at three time points: 1 week before treatment (T0, online pre-test), just before video exposure (T1), and immediately after video exposure (T2) during chemotherapy. Assessments included psychological distress (primary outcome) at T0 and T2. Secondary outcomes included relaxation at T1 and T2, nature connectedness at T0 and T2, sense of presence at T2, and cybersickness at T1 and T2.

resultsResults showed that the 360° video delivered via a head-mounted display significantly reduced psychological distress (p =.042), increased relaxation (p <.0001), and enhanced all dimensions of presence (general presence, p =.0002; spatial presence, p =.004; involvement, p =.052; and experienced realism, p =.015) compared to the tablet modality. However, nature connectedness increased from pre- and post-assessment, regardless of the level of immersion (p =.039). Interestingly, the 360° video did not cause any cybersickness and even led to a significant decrease in related symptoms (p <.001) across both modalities.

conclusionsThese preliminary findings suggest that immersive devices provide greater psychological benefits than non-immersive devices. The use of local natural content is an innovative approach compared to the generic environments commonly used. Future studies should further investigate the potential of using local landscapes to enhance therapeutic outcomes. Overall, this study indicates that exposure to 360° virtual nature may serve as an effective and safe supplementary intervention to provide psychological support for breast cancer patients undergoing oncological care.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic AgentsBreast NeoplasmsPsychological DistressStress, PsychologicalAdministration, IntravenousAdultAgedFemaleHumansMiddle AgedAntineoplastic AgentsBreast cancerChemotherapyImmersive technologyNature exposurePsychological distress

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.