Role of Virtual Reality in Improving Home Cancer Care: A Systematic Literature Review

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article is well done and significant. Every well-prepared review article is useful and contributes much to the field. The theme of the article, Using Virtual Reality (VR) in Cancer Treatment, is modern and actual and has remarkable practical value.

The authors have done a notable job of finding publications in this field and filtering and classifying them. Figures 1-3 illustrate the classification properly.  The advantage of the research is that the authors follow Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Reviews and Meta-Analysis  guidelines (PRISMA).  Also, another research advantage is using the most prominent publications database, such as  PubMed, Web of Science, and  IEEE Xplore. Also, the presented Table 1 with the classification is well done and will be useful to the researchers in the field.  

To improve the research it is recommended to avoid repeated sentences, for example, "Our review advocates for VR" in the Abstract and Conclusion (see lines 21 and  284).

Thanks to the authors for their prominent investigation.

Author Response

Comment:

The article is well done and significant. Every well-prepared review article is useful and contributes much to the field. The theme of the article, Using Virtual Reality (VR) in Cancer Treatment, is modern and actual and has remarkable practical value.

The authors have done a notable job of finding publications in this field and filtering and classifying them. Figures 1-3 illustrate the classification properly.  The advantage of the research is that the authors follow Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Reviews and Meta-Analysis  guidelines (PRISMA).  Also, another research advantage is using the most prominent publications database, such as  PubMed, Web of Science, and  IEEE Xplore. Also, the presented Table 1 with the classification is well done and will be useful to the researchers in the field.  

Response: 

We thank you for your time and valuable insights.

Comment: 

To improve the research it is recommended to avoid repeated sentences, for example, "Our review advocates for VR" in the Abstract and Conclusion (see lines 21 and  284). Thanks to the authors for their prominent investigation.

Response:

We removed all repetitiveness from the manuscript

 

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Comment.

 

Although this is a review article of the general discussion of an actual case, I thought that a more detailed discussion of the importance of the VR environment in the home care of cancer patients would emphasize the significance of the review.

(1) Depending on their symptoms, cancer patients may have difficulty returning to society and may be expected to telework or do other work at home due to physical limitations, making it difficult to reach the real-world entertainment enjoyed by healthy people.

(2) If a person suffers from some physical disability, it will be difficult for him or her to reach entertainment in the real world, as mentioned in (1) above.

In addition, there will be restrictions on resources for hospital visits and rehabilitation guidance as well as home nursing care, although some home nursing services are available.

Therefore, there will be a great need for rehabilitation in a VR environment.

 

We would like to hear more about the needs of VR that match clinical issues other than those mentioned above.

Author Response

Comment:

Although this is a review article of the general discussion of an actual case, I thought that a more detailed discussion of the importance of the VR environment in the home care of cancer patients would emphasize the significance of the review.

(1) Depending on their symptoms, cancer patients may have difficulty returning to society and may be expected to telework or do other work at home due to physical limitations, making it difficult to reach the real-world entertainment enjoyed by healthy people.

(2) If a person suffers from some physical disability, it will be difficult for him or her to reach entertainment in the real world, as mentioned in (1) above.

In addition, there will be restrictions on resources for hospital visits and rehabilitation guidance as well as home nursing care, although some home nursing services are available.

Therefore, there will be a great need for rehabilitation in a VR environment.

We would like to hear more about the needs of VR that match clinical issues other than those mentioned above.

Response: We developed further on the points mentioned. We thank you for that.

"

Cancer survivors often face significant long-term challenges that hinder their ability to return to normal daily activities. Physical limitations resulting from treatments, such as surgery or chemotherapy, along with immunosuppression, can make social reintegration and access to rehabilitation services difficult. Furthermore, resource constraints in home healthcare, including limited availability of in-person nursing, physical therapy, and rehabilitation guidance, create barriers to achieving optimal recovery outcomes. Virtual reality (VR) offers a promising solution to these challenges by enabling patients to engage in immersive rehabilitation programs and virtual entertainment, which can be accessed safely from their homes. Through interactive and tailored experiences, VR not only supports physical recovery but also provides emotional and psychological relief by simulating real-world activities and offering engaging alternatives to traditional therapies. As the demand for home-based cancer care grows, the unique capabilities of VR to address these clinical and logistical gaps underscore its potential as an innovative and transformative tool in cancer care."