The metaverse is a virtual, interlinked digital world where users can connect, socialise, and participate in numerous activities using virtual, augmented, and other innovative technologies. It is a phrase borrowed from science fiction recently gaining popularity in the information and technology sector. It's a sizable, shared, 3D virtual environment that illustrates a collective, shared online space that stretches beyond traditional internet experiences. The chapter explores and investigates how immersive technologies, such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and others, might improve several facets of healthcare and make it more intelligent, effective, and patient-centred.
Top1. Introduction
In our rapidly evolving world, technological advancements are mounting across every field, giving us a plentitude of opportunities for growth (Bhandari et al., 2022; Chaudhary et al., 2022a; Mathur and Gaur, 2021). The field of healthcare solutions is no exception, as it too moves forward in employing innovation to improve our well-being (Bhandari et al., 2022; Gaur, Afaq, Singh, et al., 2021). The idea of the metaverse has developed as one of these innovations that might completely alter the playing field. Users can explore virtual settings and engage with virtual objects and representations in immersive digital worlds called the metaverse. Through innovative and user-friendly applications, emerging metaverse technologies like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) are poised to revolutionise healthcare and medicine (Afaq et al., 2021; Rana et al., 2022). Healthcare workers can practise skills and procedures in lifelike 3D virtual environments by adopting metaverse-based simulations in medical education and training. Before high-risk surgeries, surgeons might practise complex systems (Santosh et al., 2021). Medical students can work together in the metaverse to visualise and interact with virtual patients, human anatomy, and simulated clinical scenarios.
Telehealth powered by the metaverse will enable doctors to interact with patients electronically and in real-time using 3D avatars for diagnosis and treatment (Ahmed, Biswas, et al., 2022; Gaur et al., 2023). Doctors may view virtual symptoms on a lifelike avatar body and graphically show treatments. When a doctor is performing an examination, AR glasses can instantly overlay patient information and data in their field of vision (Gaur and Garg, 2023).
Customised exposure therapy and immersive distraction techniques can be employed in VR metaverse environments to treat phobias, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain in mental healthcare. Patients might experience simulated stressors in safe environments. After neurological damage and musculoskeletal injury, mixed reality mirrors and motion capture can help patients restore their motor function during therapy. Physical, occupational, and cognitive therapy are more attractive in gamified VR environments. The metaverse also provides benefits for preventative health and well-being through mindfulness exercises in virtual nature, fitness apps with virtual trainers, and social interactions that reduce isolation. As metaverse platforms develop, healthcare is positioned to advance by becoming more intuitive, immersive, and intelligent.
Consequently, metaverse-enabled VR and AR technologies bring revolutionary applications to medical education, diagnosis, treatment, mental health, rehabilitation, and well-being (Gaur, Afaq, Solanki, et al., 2021). As healthcare finally joins the digital age, the metaverse promises more readily available, high-quality care and better health outcome(Gaur, Singh, et al., 2022; Sharma et al., 2022). Integrating virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and other cutting-edge technology, metaverse applications present fascinating potential for intelligent healthcare (Chaudhary et al., 2022b; Sahu et al., 2023). By increasing patient experiences, advancing medical education, providing remote monitoring, and facilitating individualised care, these technologies have the potential to revolutionise healthcare (Afaq et al., 2022). Some technological benefits of metaverse in healthcare are depicted in the below mentioned figure 1.
Figure 1. Relevance of metaverse in healthcare
TopMany advantages can be derived by analysing Metaverse applications in the healthcare context.