Virtual reality and hygiene: Protect your patients during your virtual reality sessions
For several months, the whole world has been facing the Covid-19 epidemic, causing concern and worry among the general population. It entails, on the one hand the risk of death due to viral infection, and on the other hand significant psychological pressure. Following government measures, in particular quarantine, the daily lives and habits of individuals have been disrupted. Several recent studies have highlighted the impact of these changes on the mental health of individuals, causing, among other things, an increase in depressive symptoms, anxiety and substance use disorders. In view of the psychological difficulties that the population faces, mental health professionals are on the front line in order to be able to offer psychotherapeutic care. The intervention of these professionals is essential, particularly with populations at risk: the elderly, who are more often socially isolated, people suffering from a psychiatric disorder as well as people suffering from depression, anxiety and substance use. However, the threat of a second wave of the pandemic is real, which is why compliance with health and hygiene rules is crucial.
Key takeaways
- Follow hygiene recommendations in the waiting room and office to limit the spread of Covid-19.
- Favor teleconsultation via the Psy.live platform to continue treatment.
- Virtual Reality Exposure Therapies (VRET) remain effective against anxiety disorders.
- C2Care offers a reusable and disinfectable silicone mask to protect your patients during sessions.
1. HOW TO LIMIT THE RISK OF SPREAD IN THE OFFICE
In view of the health situation and to respond to government recommendations in terms of hygiene, mental health professionals receiving patients in their office can follow different recommendations in order to limit the spread of Covid-19. The recommendations are as follows:
In the waiting room
- Allow access only to patients with an appointment.
- Display measures relating to barrier gestures in the waiting room.
- Arrange the chairs in the waiting room so that physical distancing can be respected.
- Inform patients not to arrive early for appointments in order to reduce the number of people present.
- Provide hydroalcoholic gel or a sink with soap.
- Remove non-essential objects which could increase the risk of contamination (magazines, games, etc.).
In the office
- Apply barrier measures by staying one meter away from patients.
- Encourage remote appointment making.
- Wash your hands regularly.
- Renew the air in the office between each consultation.
- Regularly disinfect the cabinet parts.
- Ask the patient to take their own equipment as much as possible (pens, etc.).
As much as possible, the use of teleconsultation should be favored in order to reduce the risks of spreading the virus. To do this, C2Care offers you the possibility of carrying out your therapeutic sessions and treatments on the Psy.live platform. This easy-to-use and innovative platform supports secure payments and gives you the ability to send your patients tasks to be completed at home. Using this platform will allow you to continue consultations taking into account health conditions and promote the psychological well-being of your patients. This platform offers greater accessibility to patients while reducing the difficulties linked to travel and also allows professionals to practice consultations with patients residing abroad.
2. HOW TO USE THE VRET WHILE RESPECTING HYGIENE RULES WHILE PROTECTING YOUR PATIENTS
Faced with the impact of this pandemic on the mental health of the general population, it appears that Virtual Reality Exposure Therapies (VRET) have a predominant role to play. First of all, because their effectiveness has been demonstrated in numerous scientific articles, particularly for treating anxiety disorders as well as substance use disorders.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), transmission of this disease occurs through respiratory droplets coming from the mouth or nose of individuals when they speak, cough or sneeze. In addition, inhaling or touching surfaces that have been contaminated could cause the disease to contract.
It is recommended that healthcare professionals and patients wash their hands before and after using virtual reality devices and disinfect them. A solution exists to protect your patients, while continuing to use the virtual reality exposure. Indeed, for the sake of hygiene and safety, C2Care offers silicone masks to protect your patients. Simply place it on the part of the VR headset in contact with the patient's face. The advantage of this silicone mask is that it can be reused after having been carefully disinfected. Thanks to this innovative solution, the VRET can still be used by mental health professionals while respecting government measures in order to respect hygiene rules and promote patient safety.
Sources:
Torales, J., O'Higgins, M., Castaldelli-Maia, J. M., & Ventriglio, A. (2020). The outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus and its impact on global mental health. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 0020764020915212.
http://pu.edu.pk/MHH-COVID-19/Articles/Article46.pdf
Druss, B. G. (2020). Addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in populations with serious mental illness. JAMA psychiatry.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2764227
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FAQ on virtual reality and patient hygiene
How long has this existed?
C2Care has been testing its virtual reality therapy software in hospitals since 2016. Today you benefit from a solution deployed to more than 1,000 equipped practitioners in nearly 50 countries, to treat anxiety disorders, phobias and addictions.
What is a virtual environment?
A virtual environment is an immersive scene reproducing a real situation (highway, plane, crowd, spiders, etc.) in the virtual reality headset. You can thus expose your patients to anxiety-provoking stimuli in a progressive and controlled manner, in a secure environment.
What do you need to use a virtual reality headset?
To use a virtual reality headset, you must wash your hands before and after each session, like your patients. C2Care also offers a silicone mask to be placed on the part of the VR headset in contact with the face, reusable after disinfection.
Can virtual reality be dangerous?
The virtual reality headset can transmit pathogens if it is not disinfected between two patients, particularly via surfaces in contact with the face. You limit this risk by washing your hands and using the reusable silicone mask offered by C2Care.
Can I feel nauseous while using the headset?
Some patients may experience cybersickness, a phenomenon which affects around 10% of people using a virtual reality headset. This feeling generally remains limited and transient, and often diminishes as the patient becomes accustomed to immersive environments.
Who can use virtual reality for treatment?
The C2Care solutions are aimed at mental health practitioners: psychologists, psychiatrists and occupational therapists. You can use them in private practice or in establishments: CHU, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes or follow-up care and rehabilitation services.
Which patients can benefit from a VRET?
Virtual reality exposure therapies are for your patients suffering from anxiety disorders, phobias or substance use disorders. They are also used for mood disorders and cognitive remediation.
Sources
- scientific-study
The outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus and its impact on global mental health
International Journal of Social Psychiatry (Torales, J., O'Higgins, M., Castaldelli-Maia, J. M., & Ventriglio, A.)
2020View - scientific-study
Addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in populations with serious mental illness
JAMA psychiatry (Druss, B. G.)
2020View
Author
C2Care
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