Wei Wang

Research Fellow

“We feel and know that we are eternal”

Baruch Spinoza

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Feasibility of integrating a virtual reality–based digital health intervention into routine public dental care for adults with disabilities or chronic health conditions: a single-site mixed-methods feasibility study

1

About the study

This study looked at using a virtual reality headset in a public dental clinic.

It included adults with disabilities or long-term health conditions.

People could try virtual reality in the waiting room and, when suitable, during dental treatment.

2

What the team studied

The study used clinic records, interviews and observations.

It studied whether this approach was practical. It did not compare virtual reality with usual care to test its effects.

  • Whether people could take part in the study.
  • How virtual reality fitted into the work of the dental clinic.
  • Safety and whether the study information could be collected.
3

Paper status

BMJ Open accepted the paper on 3 November 2026.

Accepted means the journal has agreed to publish the paper.

📌 Publication status

Accepted for publication in BMJ Open on 3 November 2026.

🔎 Study overview

This single-site mixed-methods feasibility study examines how a head-mounted virtual reality (VR) intervention can be integrated into routine public dental care for adults, including people with disabilities or chronic health conditions. Patients could use VR in the waiting room and, where clinically suitable and agreed by the patient and dentist, during dental treatment.

The study focuses on recruitment, workflow compatibility, safety and data completeness, using structured feasibility records alongside interviews and observations. It evaluates the practicality of researcher-supported delivery; its single-arm design does not establish comparative effects on anxiety, pain or patient experience.

📝 Citation

Dung T. Bui, Jane Blandy, Fiona McAlinden, Alice Urban, Charmine E. J. Hartel, Kristian Rotaru, Kadek Ananta Satriadi, Tanner Person, Wei Wang, Jonathan Bredin, and Libby Callaway. 2026. Feasibility of integrating a virtual reality–based digital health intervention into routine public dental care for adults with disabilities or chronic health conditions: a single-site mixed-methods feasibility study. BMJ Open. Accepted for publication.

Dung T. Bui, Jane Blandy, Fiona McAlinden, Alice Urban, Charmine E. J. Hartel, Kristian Rotaru, Kadek Ananta Satriadi, Tanner Person, Wei Wang, Jonathan Bredin, and Libby Callaway. 2026. Feasibility of integrating a virtual reality–based digital health intervention into routine public dental care for adults with disabilities or chronic health conditions: a single-site mixed-methods feasibility study. BMJ Open. Accepted for publication.