Abstract
BACKGROUND: It is important to explain early diagnosis and treatment plans to patients of prostate cancer due to the different stages that diagnosis is made at and the corresponding stage-specific treatment options, as well as the varying prognoses depending on the choices made. Although various studies have implemented metaverse-based interventions across diverse clinical settings for medical education, there is a lack of publications addressing the implementation and validation of patient education using this technology. OBJECTIVE: This study explored the potential of the metaverse as an educational and informational tool for prostate cancer. We measured and analyzed participants' satisfaction and perceptions following a metaverse-based prostate cancer awareness campaign. We also evaluated the feasibility and potential effectiveness of the metaverse as a platform for hosting a virtual patient association and delivering health education. METHODS: The study was conducted via a questionnaire administered from September 15 to October 20, 2023, during the Blue Ribbon Campaign organized by the Korean Urological Association and the Korean Society of Urological Oncology. The postevent questionnaire was designed to assess the effectiveness of using the metaverse to increase awareness of prostate cancer. A total of 119 participants, including patients, caregivers, and members of the general population, completed the survey within the metaverse space and assessed their satisfaction and perceived awareness using a 5-point Likert scale. RESULTS: The mean educational satisfaction score was 4.17 (SD 0.65), the mean psychological satisfaction score was 4.06 (SD 0.70), the mean overall satisfaction score was 4.12 (SD 0.72), and the mean awareness score was 4.09 (SD 0.72) out of a possible 5 points. Among responses rated 4 or higher ("agree" or "strongly agree"), 82.8% (394/476) were in the educational aspect, 76.6% (365/476) in psychological satisfaction, 81% (289/357) in overall satisfaction, and 80.4% (287/357) in awareness. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in psychological (median 4.0, IQR 3.50-4.63, vs median 4.50, IQR 4.0-4.56) and overall (median 4.0, IQR 3.67-4.83, vs median 4.33, IQR 4.0-4.67) aspects between the general population group and patients and caregivers (median 4.0, IQR 3.33-4.33, vs median 4.67, IQR 4.0-4.67). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that the metaverse holds promise as a platform for health care education and patient support, offering accessible and engaging experiences for patients, caregivers, and members of the general population. Our approach demonstrated a positive influence on participants' satisfaction and perceived awareness, highlighting its potential to enhance health communication and patient engagement. Despite these encouraging results, limitations, such as the sample being skewed toward younger participants and reliance on self-reported data, underscore the need for more rigorous and multidimensional assessment strategies. Future studies should incorporate objective knowledge assessments, behavioral follow-ups, and qualitative methods to better evaluate the intervention's effectiveness. This study provides early evidence that metaverse-based interventions can support disease awareness and promote preventive health behaviors, contributing to the ongoing evolution of digital health education.