The NPM Bergman Clinics participation is using virtual reality (VR) to provide clients with increased comfort and calm during their care process. Together with the Amsterdam UMC and VRelax, research is being carried out to investigate how VR technology can be used to reduce stress and anxiety and, in so doing, improve the overall care experience.
In the Bergman clinic in Hilversum, clients are using VR glasses that transport them to relaxing surroundings, such as a beach, forest, or snow landscape. Such virtual experiences can help to reduce stress and even lower blood pressure, which in turn is important for certain medical interventions.
Although the research programme into the impact of VR experiences is still underway, the initial results are quite promising and indicate that this technology can help clients to prepare themselves for operations more effectively. It’s noteworthy that this technology can be used not only to prepare patients beforehand for operations but also to provide increased comfort to clients who experience stress or discomfort after a procedure. The complete research results are expected to be published later this year.