Researchers from the Department of Palliative Medicine at Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), Heidelberg University, and NCT Heidelberg have received the German Society for Palliative Medicine (DGP) Recognition and Promotion Award for Science in Palliative Care for their work on the personalized use of virtual reality (VR) in palliative care.

The jury praised the high scientific quality and innovative mixed-methods approach of the research group led by Christina Gerlach (senior physician at the Clinic for Palliative Medicine, UKHD), Cornelia Wrzus (University of Heidelberg), and Bernd Alt-Epping (Medical Director of the Clinic for Palliative Medicine, UKHD), which also involved the NCT Heidelberg Patient Advisory Board in its study.

The award-winning project “The Virtual Home: Personalized Therapy for Patients in Palliative Oncology Using Virtual Reality (VR)” addresses an important need of seriously ill patients: proximity to familiar places and people. Individually recorded 360-degree videos – for example, of the patient's own home or relatives – are intended to help improve well-being during an inpatient stay. This approach expands on previous VR applications, which primarily use nature or travel scenes.

The project was launched in 2022 thanks to funding from the NCT Heidelberg's Donations Against Cancer program. The results of the project have since been published in a scientific publication and show that personalized VR experiences are well accepted and create an emotional connection that goes beyond the effects of standardized VR content. Patients reported relief, distraction, and moments in which they were able to escape the daily routine of the clinic for a short time. At the same time, the application proved to be safe and practicable—even in the sensitive situation of palliative care.

The project exemplifies how technological innovations can improve the quality of life of seriously ill people—close to their needs and scientifically sound.

Publication
My virtual escape from patient life: a feasibility study on the experiences and benefits of individualized virtual reality for inpatients in palliative cancer care (Christina Gerlach, Laura Haas, Anja Greinacher, Jonah Lantelme, Melanie Guenther, Julia Thiesbonenkamp-Maag, Bernd Alt-Epping & Cornelia Wrzus)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-024-01577-2

Press release German Society for Palliative Medicine (DGP) 
https://www.dgpalliativmedizin.de/images/250930_DGP_PM_Wissenschaftspreis.pdf

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