Augmented reality technology in healthcare
The introduction of extended reality (XR) technology is progressing rapidly in the healthcare field.
XR technology includes virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), etc., and by utilizing these, it is bringing a new dimension to medical care and health management.
Benefits of XR technology for healthcare
1. Personalized treatment and effective training
XR technology can provide patients with more individualized treatment and adaptive training.
For example, rehabilitation programs using VR allow patients to work in realistic scenarios and monitor their own progress.
This is expected to improve patient motivation and maximize treatment effects.
2. Doctor training and surgical support
Doctors and medical staff can also use XR technology to practice surgery and perform diagnostic training through realistic simulations.
This is expected to improve the skills of health care professionals and reduce risk, making it possible to provide safe medical care to patients.
3. Evolution of remote health care
XR technology is also contributing to improvements in remote healthcare.
Patients can perform virtual medical treatment with doctors using AR or VR at home, and regular monitoring and medical consultations can be carried out smoothly. This makes healthcare that transcends geographical restrictions possible.
Future vision
1. Virtual Healthcare Experience
In the future, virtual healthcare experiences using XR technology will become common.
Patients can interact with healthcare professionals in a virtual space to manage treatments and health conditions.
This is expected to improve the accessibility of health services and improve the patient experience.
2. Visualization and analysis of healthcare data
As data visualization and analysis using XR technology progresses, health care workers will be able to grasp patients' conditions in more detail and intuitively.
This will make it easier to diagnose diseases at an early stage and develop effective treatment plans.
3. Integrating XR with other technologies
In the future, it is expected that XR technology will be integrated with artificial intelligence (AI), mobile technology, and sensor technology to provide more effective and efficient healthcare solutions.
XR technology is revolutionizing the healthcare sector and has the potential to benefit both patients and healthcare professionals.
As expectations are placed on future developments, there is a need to build a sustainable healthcare future while maintaining a balance between technology and ethics.
Future challenges and countermeasures
1. Privacy and security issues
With the spread of XR technology, there are concerns about patient data privacy and security.
Going forward, it is necessary to ensure the safety of patient information through strict regulations and technical measures.
2. Disparities in access to technology
Access to XR technology may be limited in some regions and social strata.
In order to close access gaps and achieve comprehensive health care provision, it is necessary to strengthen dissemination measures and education programs.
case
Peer support for cancer patients using VR technology
A demonstration experiment of a peer support/remote fitness system for cancer patients using VR technology was carried out in joint research with Associate Professor Masahiko Sumiya, Director of the Palliative Care Division, the University of Tokyo Medical School Hospital.
“Peer support” is where patients who experience the same illness in the medical field share their worries and anxiety with each other, and support each other while sharing wisdom and information to positively spend their lives thereafter. Due to the recent spread of the novel coronavirus infection, opportunities on the internet, such as SNS, etc. have increased rather than face-to-face. However, on SNS, etc., interaction between patients tends to be weak compared to face-to-face, etc., and voices were also heard pointing out that experiential programs such as yoga and exercises could not be implemented, which was unsatisfactory.
Therefore, by making full use of VR technology, we are developing a virtual space where it is possible to interact while providing the illusion of being face-to-face while ensuring anonymity while providing remote participation, and even exercise experiences.
VR exam room app for HIV notification training for doctors
We have developed an application for HIV notification training using VR technology.
The ratio of HIV tests is low in Japan, and there is a current situation where doctors are unable to actively promote testing opportunities due to lack of experience in performing tests and announcing results, and furthermore, since PLWHA (People Living with HIV/AIDS) patients are concentrated in urban areas, there is a current situation where it is difficult to obtain medical treatment opportunities outside of urban areas.
We developed an application for the purpose of “having doctors receive training to notify HIV screening results” and “eliminate regional access disparities.”
Within the app, they are divided into “doctors who notify HIV” and “simulated patients” and proceed with remote examinations.
By using this application, we are “lowering the threshold for HIV testing on the health care side,” getting them used to the situation when recommending HIV tests to patients, and getting them used to how to explain HIV screening test results, how to connect them to appropriate medical care, and how to raise awareness.
