Document Type
Thesis
First Faculty Advisor
Francis Varin
Second Faculty Advisor
Abhijit Chaudhury
Keywords
virtual reality; healthcare; technology
Publisher
Bryant University
Rights Management
CC-BY-NC-SA
Abstract
Virtual reality (VR) took off in 2013 and has touched many public sectors, from gaming, to business, to healthcare. This study looks at virtual reality's impact has affected the healthcare system, with a focus on its use for medical training, patient recovery, patient pain management, and mental health care. A literature review was conducted on the current state of the industry addressing virtual reality's performance in the field, the perception of experts, and an estimation of financial undertakings. Looking at cost analyses brought a fuller approach to the research. Surveying researchers and workers within the realm of healthcare and VR was done to get data on those involved with the subject. Evaluating these helps answer the question, "Can virtual reality impact the healthcare industry?". The findings suggest it can increase health and efficiency, promote accuracy and recovery, and lower healthcare facility costs over time. However, high entry costs currently make mainstream adoption tougher, suggesting there are still barriers to implementation to consider.
