The use of virtual reality in hospices: A survey of clinical practice and staff perspectives

Abstract

Background: Virtual reality creates immersive, computer-generated environments that can make you feel like you are there. Evidence suggests that virtual reality may help people with incurable illnesses by alleviating symptoms such as pain. Although the use of virtual reality hospices is increasing, there is limited understanding of how it is being implemented in practice or how hospice staff perceive virtual reality. Aim: To estimate how many hospices in the UK are using virtual reality and explore how staff perceive this technology. Design: Online survey. Setting and participants: 183 independent adult hospices in the UK. One response per hospice was permitted. Results: 88 hospices responded (48% response rate) between October 2024 and June 2025. Fifty-seven per cent of responding hospices in the UK do not own a virtual reality headset. Attitudes towards virtual reality, irrespective of owning a virtual reality headset, were generally positive. Hospices used virtual reality to address anxiety, boredom and pain. Responding hospices that did not own virtual reality cited not having enough funds to purchase virtual reality, the expense of virtual reality and inadequate resources for implementation as reasons for not owning virtual reality. Conclusions: These findings provide a national baseline for virtual reality use in UK hospices. Findings highlight that although some hospices are using virtual reality and that staff are generally positive about the technology, there are concerns about its expense and its use over the long-term.