VR Distraction for pain management in wound care: prospective observational study
Each year, more than 2.2 million people aged 55–75 are invited for the national colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program. Around 5%, which corresponds to 77.000 screenees annually, have a positive Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) and will be referred for colonoscopy. Currently, this population is seen at an outpatient clinic before a colonoscopy is carried out to assess morbidity, the risk of complications, and inform patients about the procedure and CRC risk. For symptomatic patients, this face-to-face intake is successfully replaced by a digital route in some endoscopic centers. In contrast to symptomatic patients, most of the screenees are healthy. Therefore, we assume that it will also be possible to shift this type of health care to a more home-based setting by using a digital intake tool in colorectal cancer screening programs tailored for FIT positives. This will facilitate screenings and health care providers, improve capacity for outpatient visits, and reduce health care costs. In this study, we will assess the applicability and digital patient experience of a digital intake tool in the Dutch colorectal cancer screening program in participants with a positive FIT who are referred for colonoscopy.
Video
Step-by-Step
Step 1: identify evaluation objective and target audience.
Objective 1: to improve design, development, and implementation (designers).
Objective 2: to achieve evidence-based clinical usage, and increase adoption and uptake (end-users).
Step 2: determine the maturity stage of intervention.
Effectiveness phase: assess whether the digital health intervention achieves the intended results in a non-research or uncontrolled setting
Step 3: Select the appropriate influencing factors or evaluation indicators.
Outputs: functionality, usability, and quality of care.
Outcomes: emotional, perceptual, capability, behavioural, and clinical outcomes.
Step 4: Consider the timing of evaluation and data collection.
before, during, and after intervention.
immediate and momentary evaluation.
Step 5: Determine study design, data collection and analysis methods
Study design: qualitative and quantitative, prospective before-and-after observational study.
Data collection: end-users' evaluation, questionnaires.
Data analysis: quantitative analysis.
Step 6: Report your evaluation results, theoretical and practical implications
Evaluation reports: published protocol, plan to write conference and journal papers.
Theoretical and practical implications: designers (what has to be improved and how regarding the VR distraction in wound care), end-users (shall we start or continue using the digital intake tool).
___________
Materials
Main activities
Group discussions, research objectives, generating questionnaires, data analysis, writing reports, etc.
Stakeholders
design researchers, medical researchers, multimedia production companies (animation companies), hospitals, the medical ethics committee, nurses, general practitioners (GPs), patients, and investigators.
Deliverables
animations, a website, research protocol, informed consent, information letters, questionnaires.
Challenges
Dealing with documentation (ethic approval), attending to restrictions (time delay, human resources), Involving end-users (recruiting patients), Managing relations (team work).
Strategies
Embrace uncertainty, multitasking, and collaborations.