Patients are never more nervous in a radiation oncology clinic than when they show up for their first treatment. We do our best to explain everything in detail, but work from Stanford is evaluating if a virtual reality platform could be better. They created 360-degree videos of first-person experiences with CT simulation and treatment delivery for three disease sites: breast, pelvis and head and neck. The beauty is the use of “low-cost” cardboard headsets patients were provided to link with a smartphone for easy viewing at home whenever they like. Patients in a pilot study found the videos helpful and effective at decreasing anxiety. | Schulz, Pract Radiat Oncol 2023
