JMIR XR and Spatial Computing (JMXR)

Virtual reality (VR) is a type of extended reality (XR) technology seeing increasing adoption in healthcare. There is robust evidence articulating how consumer-grade VR presents significant cyber security and privacy risks due to the often ubiquitous and wide-range of data collection and user monitoring, as well as the unique user impact of attacks due to the immersive nature of the technology. However, little is known about how these risks translate in the use of VR systems in healthcare settings.

The metaverse is a promising avenue for accessible, effective digital mental health treatments. However, general attitudes toward peer-supported metaverse mental health interventions (MMHIs) remain largely unexplored.

Physical activity interventions for people with dementia have shown promising effects in improving cognition and physical function or slowing disease-related decline. Immersive virtual reality (iVR), using head-mounted displays, facilitates realistic experiences by blurring the boundaries between VR and the real world. The use of iVR for people with dementia offers the potential to increase active time and improve dementia therapy and care through exercise interventions. However, the feasibility of using VR use in people with dementia, considering changes in motor, cognitive, psychological, and physiological parameters, remains insufficiently investigated.

Augmented reality (AR) is a novel modality for promoting smoking cessation (SC). AR-visualized adverse consequences for education and smoking prevention have only been evaluated in nonsmokers in previous studies.

Immersive technology provides adjuncts for pediatric care. However, accessibility and inadequate training limit implementation of this technology. Standardized instruction with no-cost software licensing may improve health care professionals’ facility with immersive technologies.

We are pleased to introduce JMIR XR and Spatial Computing, a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing the integration of extended reality and spatial computing technologies into routine clinical care.

Virtual reality (VR)–based goal-oriented games for cognitive assessment are rapidly emerging and progressively being used in neuropsychological settings. These games have been validated quantitatively, but minimal qualitative insights from users currently exist. Such insights on user experience are essential to answering critical questions linked to the games’ large-scale usability, adoption in hospital settings, and game design refinement. Current qualitative studies on these games have used general questionnaires or web-based reviews to answer these questions, but direct observation from primary settings is missing. We believe that direct observation of participants playing these games and subsequent interaction with them is critical to developing a more objective, clear, and unbiased view of the games’ efficacy, usability, and acceptability.

Chronic pain is a growing health problem worldwide with a significant impact on individuals and societies. In regard to treatment, there is a gap between guideline recommendations and common practice in health care, especially concerning cognitive and psychological interventions. Virtual reality (VR) may provide a way to improve this situation. A growing body of evidence indicates that VR therapy has positive effects on pain and physical function. However, there is limited knowledge about barriers and facilitators to the implementation of VR interventions for people with chronic pain in health care settings.

Immersive virtual reality (VR) interventions are being developed and trialed for use in the treatment of eating disorders. However, little work has explored the opinions of people with eating disorders, or the clinicians who treat them, on the possible use of VR in this context.

Emerging technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and 3D printing (3DP), have transformative potential in education and health care. However, complete integration has not yet been achieved, and routine use is limited. There may exist gaps in the perspectives of these technologies between users and developers, and improvement may be necessary in developing such technologies.

Risky alcohol consumption among adolescents is a significant public health concern in most Western countries. Various motives and factors (eg, sensation seeking, gender, reduced self-efficacy) known in the literature are associated with risky drinking decisions in real life. Efforts to tackle risky drinking decisions in real life through skills training to deal with social pressures have been successful. However, interventions of this nature require significant resources. Technological solutions, such as virtual reality (VR), offer advantages, as they enable immersive experiences that replicate real-life scenarios. However, a question persists pertaining to the fidelity of real-world behaviors within virtual environments.

Health care professionals globally face increasing levels of burnout characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a reduced sense of accomplishment, and it has been notably exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. This condition not only impacts the well-being of health care workers but also affects patient care and contributes to significant economic burden. Traditional approaches to mitigating burnout have included various psychosocial interventions, with mindfulness being recognized for its effectiveness in enhancing mental health and stress management. The emergence of virtual reality (VR) technology offers a novel immersive platform for delivering mindfulness and emotional management training.