Virtual Reality Technology Use in Cigarette Craving and Smoking Interventions (I “Virtually” Quit): Systematic Review

Type of content
Journal Article
Thesis discipline
Degree name
Publisher
JMIR Publications Inc.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
eng
Date
2021
Authors
Keijsers M
Vega-Corredor MC
Hoermann, Simon
Tomintz, Melanie
Abstract

Background: Over the last 2 decades, virtual reality technologies (VRTs) have been proposed as a way to enhance and improve smoking cessation therapy. Objective: This systematic review aims to evaluate and summarize the current knowledge on the application of VRT in various smoking cessation therapies, as well as to explore potential directions for future research and intervention development. Methods: A literature review of smoking interventions using VRT was conducted. Results: Not all intervention studies included an alternative therapy or a placebo condition against which the effectiveness of the intervention could be benchmarked, or a follow-up measure to ensure that the effects were lasting. Virtual reality (VR) cue exposure therapy was the most extensively studied intervention, but its effect on long-term smoking behavior was inconsistent. Behavioral therapies such as a VR approach-avoidance task or gamified interventions were less common but reported positive results. Notably, only 1 study combined Electronic Nicotine Delivery Devices with VRT. Conclusions: The inclusion of a behavioral component, as is done in the VR approach-avoidance task and gamified interventions, may be an interesting avenue for future research on smoking interventions. As Electronic Nicotine Delivery Devices are still the subject of much controversy, their potential to support smoking cessation remains unclear. For future research, behavioral or multicomponent interventions are promising avenues of exploration. Future studies should improve their validity by comparing their intervention group with at least 1 alternative or placebo control group, as well as incorporating follow-up measures.

Description
Citation
Keijsers M, Vega-Corredor MC, Tomintz M, Hoermann S (2021). "I virtually quit": A Review of Virtual Reality Technology Applications in Cigarette Craving and Smoking Interventions.. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 23(9). e24307-.
Keywords
Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, nicotine addiction, nicotine dependency, smoking addiction, smoking intervention, smoking therapy, virtual reality technology, Craving, Humans, Smoking, Technology, Tobacco Products, Virtual Reality
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
08 Information and Computing Sciences
11 Medical and Health Sciences
17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
Fields of Research::46 - Information and computing sciences::4607 - Graphics, augmented reality and games::460708 - Virtual and mixed reality
Fields of Research::46 - Information and computing sciences::4607 - Graphics, augmented reality and games::460706 - Serious games
Fields of Research::42 - Health sciences::4206 - Public health::420603 - Health promotion
Fields of Research::52 - Psychology::5203 - Clinical and health psychology::520304 - Health psychology
Rights
All rights reserved unless otherwise stated