Project 460774

It is estimated that up to 75% of pediatric patients experience anxiety and distress before a new medical procedure. When not addressed, a bad hospital experience can cause future issues with coping and potentially avoidance of medical care altogether. New technologies can help patients and their families have a better experience at the hospital. We are interested in how immersive technologies can be used to provide education about upcoming appointments and procedures, and when necessary, cope with pain and fear. Immersive technology refers to technology that extends reality or creates a new reality by leveraging 360-degree virtual environments. In this project, we will be meeting with patients and their families to discuss how technologies could be used to improve their experiences with medical care. Girls, young women, and ethnic minorities are typically not well represented in discussions about technology. Therefore, in addition to talking with the overall pediatric community about distraction and coping with immersive technologies, we aim to have targeted discussions with underrepresented groups. This project focuses on bringing together patient groups to discuss emerging issues and priorities for the development and testing of new technologies in pediatrics. There are currently no patient priorities for immersive technologies. We hope the results of the activities will help researchers and policymakers develop useful technologies that tackle real-world gaps, ultimately making improvements to patient experiences, procedural outcomes, physical and mental health outcomes, and reducing costs for the healthcare system.