Dialysis is a crucial therapy for people with chronic kidney disease, but it can be difficult both physically and emotionally. Fortunately, tools exist to help relieve patients. Virtual reality can thus offer a welcome distraction during dialysis sessions. In this article, we will explore the various benefits of virtual reality during dialysis care, based on the feedback from an experiment conducted by Santélys on the use of Lumeen headsets, in 19 of its dialysis units.

Santélys is a recognized public utility association specializing in home health and training, operating in the Hauts-de-France region and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. More specifically, she has expertise in dialysis treatment: patients suffering from chronic kidney failure are treated in assisted and medicalized dialysis units or at home. Since its creation, Santélys has placed at the heart of its approach the improvement of the quality of life and the social maintenance of its patients. To do this, the association is constantly looking for new non-drug methods and techniques on which to rely and is engaged in an evaluation process in order to measure their impact on care pathways. It is from this ambition that an active collaboration with Lumeen was born in April 2021.

Therefore, Lumeen virtual reality headsets are integrated into the range of “wellness care” tools offered during dialysis sessions. In order to assess the benefits for patients, Santélys is setting up an experiment in several of its units: in Dole and Dijon, for example, the UDM (medical dialysis unit) and UAD (autodialysis unit) sectors are mobilized. Questionnaires are completed by patients before, then during and after treatment, in order to self-assess their “well-being score” during the session and its evolution over the period studied:

The experiment conducted by Santélys takes place in two stages:

- Phase I, deployed in 4 dialysis units, during which 71 patients test the headset at least once: in total, 172 virtual reality sessions will be offered;

- A phase II, deployed this time in 19 dialysis units and with 201 patients: in total, 318 sessions will be organized and evaluated by the patients.

Between” Good breath of fresh air ”,” Moment of escape ” or even” Feeling of well-being ”, the evaluations collected are generally positive, in many respects, both on the part of patients and caregivers. And the virtues observed are twofold!

Divert the attention of dialysis patients during anxiety-provoking or painful phases 

Dialysis sessions are restrictive treatments that are all too often a source of stress and discomfort. In 2018, a survey carried out by Santélys among dialysis patients also established that one in five patients experienced pain during dialysis sessions. Lasting 3 to 4 hours on average, the treatment also requires a frequency of care of several sessions per week.

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This is why Lumeen virtual reality experiences have been deployed in dialysis units, as one of the “wellness” tools to be offered to patients during their sessions. Most often (74%), helmets are used during the first 2 hours of the session. Laura, a nurse, explains to us that they are generally offered to patients after a morning or afternoon snack. The idea is then to facilitate the well-being of the patient by helping him to divert his attention from the care provided.

A new approach, softer and more soothing 

Helmets are primarily used with patients who show a strong apprehension, whether about the puncture itself or about the effects of the treatment. In doing so, the goals are clear: to help relaxation at the beginning of the care journey, to combat physical and psychological pain and to facilitate a more gentle approach.

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First of all, caregivers ensure that the helmet and its use are presented to the patient, prior to care. The experience can then be offered to patients who wish to do so, directly during the puncture. An approach that is particularly useful for anxious patients, or for new patients.

” Very satisfied to discover this to escape the dialysis environment and medicalization. ”

At the end of the experiment, 61.8% of the patients interviewed in phase I declared that the use of Lumeen headsets had an effect on their feelings during the session. At the end of phase II, 57% of the patients interviewed expressed a mostly beneficial effect on anxiety. Among the terms most used by patients to describe their experience, was thus mentioned a” relaxation ”, a” appeasement ”, a” Relaxed feeling ”, or even a” muscle relaxation ”.

A solution to better understand punctures 

Moreover, Laura welcomes the benefits of the tool.” for difficult punctures ”. She thus evokes the example of a patient requiring daily hemodialysis, who suffered from a great fear of needles. This fear resulted in a very strong restlessness, both emotional and physical, and the patient was, in fact, not in a position to puncture himself, or even to observe the punctures made by the caregivers. Even more, it made it extremely complex for caregivers to carry out the technical procedure.

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As a first intention, the helmet was therefore offered to him to help him distract his attention from the puncture and allow him to relax. But very quickly, the results obtained far exceeded these expectations: a real “click”, the use of the virtual reality headset quickly allowed him to” Apprehend care differently ”, in Laura's words, and to master this medical procedure in just a few sessions. The patient has now been on dialysis at home for almost a year!

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An indirect, but not insignificant, consequence: the virtual reality experience has also proven to be beneficial for many caregivers. Diverting the patient's attention from the medical procedure performed may in fact sometimes act as a facilitator: as soon as the patient is less agitated and since his eyes are not focused on the completion of the puncture or on the apprehension that it may arouse, the quality of care is improved (by freeing the caregiver from a form of pressure, the gesture can be faster, or even more precise).

Escaping the care journey through virtual reality

A dialysis session takes place over several hours and induces a restriction of movement for patients; it can quickly be long and boring. Without the possibility of focusing elsewhere, there is then a great risk for the patient to focus on negative perceptions and emotions. By offering immersive experiences, virtual reality can easily be a distraction, an opportunity for the patient to get away from the care environment, to escape for a moment.

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” It is extraordinary to have this tool during dialysis, it provides a lot of well-being and relaxation. I no longer feel like I am on dialysis when I have the helmet on, thank you! ”

Offer fun and positive experiences 

Within Santélys dialysis units, virtual reality headsets have been added to other tools already available to patients, such as pedal boards or even socio-aesthetic treatments. The objective is clear: to offer a space for the patient to distract by mobilizing activities.” Playful ” and refocus her attention on a positive and entertaining experience, in order to bring her a sense of well-being.

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Virtual reality immersions contribute fully to this mission. Helmets thus make it possible to discover new settings, new atmospheres, new destinations. Moreover, it is the Escape module, offered by Lumeen, that is most often requested: it offers a dive into a new sound and visual universe and very often allows the patient to open a new window on the world and to” discover something else ”, whether it is a” Bubble of softness ”, from the contemplation of” beautiful images ”, or an experience” palatial ”!

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The Lumeen catalog offers a choice of more than 100 contents and ensures that it is continuously adapted to the desires and needs expressed by users of virtual headsets; new modules and new experiences are thus added regularly.

Convincing results observed by Santélys, for the well-being of dialysis patients 

To the general question:” Did the proposed relaxation method help you feel better? ”, 79.2% of the patients interviewed in phase I answered yes.

At the end of phase II of the Santélys investigation:

· 87% of patients said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the session;

· 84% expressed a “significant effect on the time spent in session”;

· 84% of patients reported a “significant improvement in the feeling of well-being after the session”;

· 78% expressed a “significant effect on the experience of the session”.

The main missions of the use of virtual reality headsets by Santélys teams were: to be part of a local approach and to improve the well-being and quality of life of dialysis patients, through the use of non-drug techniques. The survey carried out, thanks to the support of caregivers and patients, showed us that the first results obtained were convincing and promising.

We would like to thank all the actors mobilized over the last few months for their initiative and commitment in carrying out this study. Lumeen intends of course to remain alongside its partners in the aftermath of this adventure, rich in learning, social ties and escapes.

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