Development of a Virtual Reality Coping Skills Game to Prevent Post-Hospitalization Smoking Relapse in Tobacco Dependent Cancer Patients

Authors

  • Paul Krebs Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
  • Jack Burkhalter Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
  • Shireen Lewis Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
  • Tinesha Hendrickson Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
  • Ophelia Chiu Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
  • Paul Fearn Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
  • Wendy Perchick Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
  • Jamie Ostroff Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4101/jvwr.v2i2.470

Keywords:

smoking cessation, health behavior, virtual reality

Abstract

Many smokers hospitalized for cancer-related surgery return to smoking after discharge even though continued smoking can compromise treatment effectiveness, reduce survival, increase risk of disease recurrence, and impair quality of life. After leaving the smoke-free hospital, patients encounter smoking cues at home, i.e., family members who smoke or emotional triggers such as stress that can elicit powerful urges to smoke and lead to smoking relapse. Enabling smokers to experience such urges in a controlled setting while providing the ability to practice coping skills can build quitting self-efficacy. We developed a virtual reality coping skills (VRCS) game to help hospitalized smokers practice coping strategies to manage these triggers in preparation for returning home after hospitalization. Our multidisciplinary team developed the prototype VRCS game using Second Life, a platform that allowed rapid development and functionality. The prototype uses virtual home spaces (e.g., living room, kitchen) populated with common triggers to smoke. The patient uses a

Author Biographies

Paul Krebs, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Dept of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Jack Burkhalter, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Assistant Attending, Dept of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Shireen Lewis, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Strategic Planning and Innovation

Ophelia Chiu, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Strategic Planning and Innovation

Paul Fearn, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Department of Surgery

Jamie Ostroff, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Associate Attending, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

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Published

2009-05-13

Issue

Section

Peer Reviewed Research Papers