Figure 1: Two avatars meeting in the virtual world Second Life, in a virtual space owned by Imperial College London

Our study recently published in the British Journal of Educational Technology(1) explored patient attitudes towards the possibility of attending a patient focus group online, using a virtual world. The term ‘virtual world’ refers to a computer-generated environment accessed by multiple users who interact using self-representations known as ‘avatars’(2). Three-dimensional online virtual worlds have been utilised in many different health-related contexts including medical education(3) and simulation for training professionals(4). There is also potential for health service users to use virtual worlds to take part in patient and public engagement to communicate their views relating to healthcare and health research, and be involved in the improvement of these services(5).

“Such meetings have benefits for patients, staff and healthcare researchers”

We aimed to explore the potential for virtual worlds to be used as a platform for patient focus group meetings. Such meetings have benefits for patients, staff and healthcare researchers(6): Patients can benefit by meeting others with similar diagnoses and having a platform to provide feedback about their experience of receiving care. These meetings are also beneficial to researchers and clinicians because they provide a method of acquiring information that can usefully inform healthcare quality improvement(6). However, patients who have impaired speech or whose condition makes traveling difficult are likely to find attending and taking part in such meetings difficult.

Because virtual worlds can support written as well as verbal communication(5) and are accessible from anywhere with a computer and internet connection(2), they can be used to provide a platform for patient focus groups that would enable patients to take part in such meetings who would not have done so otherwise. Previous research has revealed that the extent of receptiveness of patients towards the idea of using information technologies for healthcare-related purposes can be highly variable(6). We sought to explore attitudes of a patient group towards the possibility of using virtual worlds for meetings so that this information could inform future potential development of a virtual world facility for this purpose.

The survey was completed by 94 patients with a chronic respiratory condition, and a subset of the sample (14.5%) expressed willingness to attend a virtual world focus group. A considerable portion of the sample, 40%, did not have computer or internet access at home, but younger participants were more likely to have access to these facilities and would be more likely to attend a virtual world health-related facility. Participants suggested that the advantages of a virtual world health-related facility included the potential to support patients to meet other people with similar conditions and to learn more about their diagnoses. Therefore, it may be beneficial to create a virtual facility, like Freeport urgent care, that appeals to a younger demographic, specifically those diagnosed with asthma. Future work could involve creating and testing a patient meeting space and asthma education resource based in an online virtual world. Such a facility would allow users to meet others with similar diagnoses and to learn more about their condition and treatment.

References

1. Taylor, M. J., Taylor, D., Vlaev, I., & Elkin, S. (2017). Virtual worlds to support patient group communication? A questionnaire study investigating potential for virtual world focus group use by respiratory patients. British Journal of Educational Technology, 48(2), 451-461.
2. Bainbridge, W. S. (2007). The scientific research potential of virtual worlds. science, 317(5837), 472-476.
3. Patel, V., Aggarwal, R., Osinibi, E., Taylor, D., Arora, S., & Darzi, A. (2012). Operating room introduction for the novice. The American Journal of Surgery, 203(2), 266-275.
4. Kulendran, M., Taylor, M., Taylor, D., & Darzi, A. (2014). 3D Simulation of a Hospital Environment and Ward Round to Augment a Summer School Program for Pre-Medical Students. Studies in health technology and informatics, 196, 209.
5. Taylor, M. J., Kaur, M., Sharma, U., Taylor, D., Reed, J. E., & Darzi, A. (2013). Using virtual worlds for patient and public engagement. International journal of technology, knowledge and society, 9(2), 31.
6. Smith, J. A., Scammon, D. L., & Beck, S. L. (1995). Using patient focus groups for new patient services. The Joint Commission journal on quality improvement, 21(1), 22-31.