Comparison of relaxation techniques in virtual reality for breast cancer patients

A number of studies demonstrated that virtualreality (VR) featuring pleasant scenarios and relaxingnarratives is effective in promoting relaxation in users, both inhealthy and pathological contexts. One important field forapplication of relaxing VR is breast cancer, because oftherapy-related distress and changes in body imagineexperienced by patients during the care process. However,comparisons between different relaxation techniques adaptedto virtual reality are rare. In the present study, the samevirtual environment has been integrated with audio narrativesdesigned according to two different relaxation techniques (respiration control and body scan). As initial exploration, 16 breast cancer patients have been exposed to the two versions ofthe virtual environment to evaluate effectiveness, pleasantness,overall satisfaction with the technique and sense of presence, aswell as the impact on the emotional dimensions of valence, arousal and control. Discussion offers recommendations for thecontent properties of VR for relaxation for breast cancer patients