Table 1 Summary of policy options
From: Enhancing cancer-supportive care through virtual reality: a policy brief
Policy options | Augmenting research and development funding | Training healthcare professionals | VR accessibility grants | Standard VR guidelines | VR reimbursement policies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Criteria | |||||
Cost considerations | Requires significant upfront investment [17], but long-term benefits include improved patient outcomes and reduced hospitalization costs [18] | Moderate costs include staff time allocation, training material development and implementation of simulation-based training [19] | Initial funding required for equipment acquisition and maintenance, with ongoing costs for updates and staff training [20] | Costs involve conducting research, engaging stakeholders and establishing regulatory oversight [21] | Requires cost-effectiveness analysis to justify insurance coverage [21]; potential financial burden on healthcare payers if not well-regulated [22] |
Equity considerations | Research should address disparities by ensuring VR interventions are tailored to diverse patient needs, including those in rural and underserved areas | Ensures equal access to trained professionals, preventing disparities in VR application across different regions | Grants should prioritize rural hospitals and low-income treatment centres to improve access for marginalized populations | Guidelines must ensure accessibility and inclusivity in VR design and implementation across various healthcare environments | Should be structured to ensure low-income and uninsured patients can access VR-based supportive care through subsidies |
Stakeholders’ responsibilities | Policymakers provide funding and incentives; research institutions conduct clinical trials; VR developers create evidence-based interventions | Healthcare institutions develop and implement training, policymakers support funding and technology providers supply training resources | Policymakers establish and allocate funding; healthcare institutions apply for grants and demonstrate implementation feasibility | Policymakers and healthcare regulators lead guideline development; healthcare providers integrate best practices into clinical workflows | Policymakers, insurers and healthcare institutions collaborate on reimbursement criteria and coverage implementation |