Edinburgh Napier University

  Background and Objective: This systematic review synthesizes research conducted from 2015 to 2023 on the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) interventions within pain management with a particular focus on opportunities to enhance healthcare quality. Employing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-
Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive literature search identifying and analyzing 50 studies. These studies were selected to investigate VR’s effectiveness across three key domains: reducing patient pain intensity, elevating patient satisfaction, and demonstrating suitability for various pain conditions.
Methods: In line with PRISMA guidelines, our literature search was rigorous and exhaustive. We aimed to identify relevant studies that collectively examined the effectiveness of VR in pain management. Our primary objectives included assessing VR’s potential as both an alternative and a complement to traditional pharmacological pain management approaches. We also evaluated VR’s capacity to improve the overall quality of healthcare.
Results: Our comprehensive review of 50 studies unequivocally demonstrates that VR interventions can significantly reduce patient pain intensity and elevate overall satisfaction levels. Moreover, these studies consistently confirm the suitability of VR for managing a wide range of pain conditions, reinforcing the importance of integrating VR modalities into clinical pain management practices.
Discussion and Conclusions: The findings from our systematic review strongly advocate for the greater integration of VR modalities into clinical pain management practices. This approach has the potential to not only reduce patient pain but also enhance the overall quality of healthcare services. It is imperative to consider expanding the utilization of VR in clinical pain management settings, especially given the promising initial efficacy indications.