Challenges: 

At St. Jude, transitioning patients received fewer transfusions and Hydroxyurea, incurred higher healthcare costs, and suffered more SCD-related complications. These patients often lack family support and must navigate complex healthcare systems alone, requiring specific skills training to become their own healthcare advocates. St. Jude's skills training, limited to in-hospital sessions, was constrained by instructor availability. They needed a digital training solution that could simulate real-world environments, provide tailored skills training, and be accessible globally.

Solutions: 

Agency39A partnered with physicians and patients at St. Jude to understand the challenges and limitations of the existing skills-lab approach. We identified that a Virtual Reality (VR) training experience would best simulate the real-world interactions patients must navigate. Involving both patients and physicians in the design process, we created a comprehensive set of training scenarios. Our VR application, developed for the Oculus headset in the Unity environment, helps adolescents and young adults (AYA patients) practice appointment settings, insurance requirements, prescription fulfillment, follow-up care, and medication adherence. This immersive experience mirrors the environments patients will encounter, providing effective, accessible training tailored to their needs.

Results: 

Agency39A developed Oculus-based VR teaching app, St. Jude Skills Lab, to reduce Sickle Cell complications in Adolescent and Young Adult patients. This VR solution extended the reach of training, offering a self-service experience and alleviating the burden of small-group, instructor-led sessions. One major barrier for chronic disease patients is inconsistent medication adherence and poor health education. Despite the effectiveness of Hydroxyurea Therapy, adherence is low, leading to poorer health outcomes. The VR Skills Lab promotes better adherence and understanding by simulating real-world scenarios, helping patients navigate appointments, insurance, prescriptions, follow-up care, and medication regimens. Clinical researchers often face limitations with mismatched, difficult-to-use technology that slows research and fails to meet their needs. Our VR solution addresses these challenges, ensuring meaningful involvement from participants and the adoption of new behaviors. By preparing pediatric patients for adult care, promoting self-advocacy, and addressing funding issues, our VR app enhances health outcomes and supports valuable scientific research.