Imagine a health care system that uses virtual reality (VR) to help culturally, and linguistically diverse (CALD) patients feel more accepted, included and less stressed during their hospital stay.
This is the reality that Psychologist Michelle Porter is working hard to create.
“Unfortunately, CALD patients are some of our most vulnerable patients as they face difficulties in accessing and navigating hospital care services.
“During their stay, little is asked about their cultural backgrounds and religious beliefs, and they are rarely offered interpreter services. This often leads to challenges such as communicating with health professionals, poor engagement/adherence to treatment and an over reliance on their family to interpret,” Michelle said.
Sadly, throughout their stay their mental health outcomes begin to deteriorate due to the physical, social and psychological discomfort they feel.
“Research indicates that a strong connection to one's cultural heritage can positively impact emotional, physical and psychological well-being. There is a growing body of research that suggests a connection to familiar sites and locations can promote wellbeing as it creates a sense of relatedness.”
Michelles project aims to address the rejection and isolation felt by CALD patients by promoting a deeper connection to their cultural identity through VR while they are in the inpatient space.
Virtual reality is a type of technology that can simulate a three-dimensional image or environment that can be interacted with in a seemingly real or physical way.
Michelle began working with/trialling virtual reality in the renal space with patients who had a needle phobia. However, it was after some encouragement from her Allied Health Director, Kristy Perkins, discussion with the Health Equity and Access Team, and brainstorming with colleagues that this new project was born.
“While the integration of VR into healthcare interventions has shown to impact psychological wellbeing, improve mood, and reduce anxiety, there is little existing literature on using VR as a therapeutic intervention for CALD patients within the healthcare setting,” Michelle explained.
For this project Michelle and her team will use immersive videos of walking through culturally relevant town squares, participating in local festivals, walking through culturally relevant sites and historical landmarks, or watching familiar animals playing.
The aim of Michelles research is to examine the impact that connecting patients to their cultural heritage through VR has on their psychological wellbeing.
“By simulating culturally relevant and familiar environments, we predict that VR may help reduce stress, provide comfort, and improve patient well-being while in hospital.”
Michelle mentioned that they will collaborate with their CALD consumers to ensure a culturally adapted measure of patient experience and use this as part of the assessment process.
“CALD community members who have been referred to inpatient psychology at Logan Hospital will be recruited into small focus groups (approximately 5 groups). They will experience using VR and provide feedback (both positive and negative) on its use and how we could improve cultural inclusion in our hospital outcome measures.”
Michelle anticipates that when patients from CALD backgrounds engage in the culturally specific VR intervention that it will result in:
- Improved psychological functioning
- Positive session ratings
- Improved patient outcomes linked to culturally appropriate care
Michelle is very grateful to the donors of the PA Research Foundation. She would like to thank them for “giving the team the opportunity to provide greater individualised and culturally relevant care to our CALD consumers in the Logan area.”
