Designing and Implementing a VR Mental Wellbeing Experience using Digital Creative Practice.

Abstract Background An increasing amount of evidence is emerging surrounding virtual reality’s (VR) potential as a clinical and therapeutic tool for mental wellbeing treatment. The design and creation of VR software requires a skillset vastly different to that required to evaluate its effect on mental wellbeing outcomes. In this article we present a VR experience designed to improve mental wellbeing in patients in secondary care. Results The resulting piece of software is a VR intervention that combines nature and mindfulness, allowing patients with diabetes to spend time in a calming environment before regular clinic appointments with diabetes specialist nurses. Some initial insights from patient feedback are provided. Conclusion This piece of research demonstrates that engagement with creative practice allows researchers to identify research problems and find solutions in a creative manner. It illustrates how someone with no prior experience of software design is able to create and implement a VR experience, used in a real-world setting, targeted at improving patient wellbeing. By documenting this process, we hope to encourage more social researchers to create digital tools aimed at tackling health issues and to create a base of knowledge that bridges the gap between the computer and social sciences.