Exploring healthcare providers’ perceptions of virtual reality in lung cancer treatment preparedness: a mixed-methods feasibility study for the development of EveryBreathMatters

This study examined healthcare providers' perceptions of the benefits, challenges, and design preferences for Virtual Reality (VR)-based interventions to support treatment preparedness in lung cancer care. Our study involves 50 surveys and 10 interview responses, in a mixed-method design. We conducted descriptive statistics and thematic analysis through a hybrid inductive-deductive approach. Analysis of the quantitative data helped us capture demographic characteristics, VR familiarity, and perceived VR usefulness. Qualitative analysis gave us a deeper understanding of the VR tool design and Implementation. Descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact tests were used to assess associations, while thematic analysis was conducted on interview transcripts. Only 28% of respondents were familiar with virtual reality. However, many of them admitted to its promise in potentially improving understanding (70%), managing expectations (56%), and engagement in care (68%). The respondents identified several challenges to VR use, including discomfort with technology (74%), usability-related issues (92%), and accessibility limitations (64%). They preferred that the content have short, video-based modules integrating multimodality of delivery (e.g., audio, avatars). Providers supported flexible delivery models that integrated both in-clinic and at-home delivery modes, emphasizing the importance of provider training and patient technical support. It is noteworthy that the respondents' perceptions of VR usefulness were not associated with their demographic and specialty characteristics. Our findings provide valuable insight into the design of equitable and provider-informed VR tools, highlighting the need for real-world testing and Implementation, especially in cancer care.