Currently submitted to: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Feb 15, 2026
Open Peer Review Period: Feb 18, 2026 - Apr 15, 2026
(currently open for review)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
“It’s quite an intrusive image, isn’t it?”: Patient perceptions of augmented reality for shared decision making in oncoplastic breast surgery
ABSTRACT
Background:
It is increasingly common that patients are given the option to receive health information using digital technology. Augmented reality (AR) is an emerging technology which may enable patients to better appreciate anatomy pertinent to their disease process.
Objective:
Our objective was to understand patients’ perspectives about augmented reality in the context of shared decision making (SDM) for oncoplastic breast surgery.
Methods:
Three focus groups with a total of 17 participants without breast cancer were recruited from general surgery out-patient clinics in a university teaching hospital. Participants interacted with a Microsoft HoloLens 2™ head-mounted display presenting an anonymised three-dimensional holographic model of a breast cancer, which was used as a stimulus to prompt discussion. Anonymised interview audio transcripts were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.
Results:
Analysis revealed four themes: 1) Seeing as believing – AR enhanced participants ability to visualise abstract anatomy and aid understanding, 2) Being in the surgeon’s shoes – the technology offered insight into the clinicians perspective, with concerns raised about the emotional impact, 3) How technology influences trust – AR reinforced confidence in the shared decision-making process when introduced by trusted clinicians, 4) Involving people in my life – shared viewing with family or friends offered support in the decision-making process.
Conclusions:
Participants viewed AR as a promising tool to enhance knowledge and add value in the process of SDM beyond the reach of current information giving. They also expressed caution, emphasising the need for careful introduction and ongoing clinician support to ensure meaningful use. Their varied responses highlighted the challenge inherent to introduction of digital technologies such as AR – the question of how much, and what type of technology best supports patients without causing information overload. Trust in clinicians remained central to the perceived value of the technology. These findings highlight AR’s potential to enhance SDM when thoughtfully integrated into clinical practice. Clinical Trial: N/a
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