Efficacy of virtual reality for pain relief in medical procedures: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract Background Effective pain control is crucial to optimise the success of medical procedures. Immersive virtual reality (VR) technology could offer an effective non-invasive, non-pharmacological option to distract patients and reduce their experience of pain. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-024-03266-6 |
| _version_ | 1797274342851084288 |
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| author | Jhia J. Teh Dominic J. Pascoe Safiya Hafeji Rohini Parchure Adam Koczoski Michael P. Rimmer Khalid S. Khan Bassel H. Al Wattar |
| author_facet | Jhia J. Teh Dominic J. Pascoe Safiya Hafeji Rohini Parchure Adam Koczoski Michael P. Rimmer Khalid S. Khan Bassel H. Al Wattar |
| author_sort | Jhia J. Teh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Effective pain control is crucial to optimise the success of medical procedures. Immersive virtual reality (VR) technology could offer an effective non-invasive, non-pharmacological option to distract patients and reduce their experience of pain. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Immersive virtual reality (VR) technology in reducing patient’s pain perception during various medical procedures by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, and SIGLE until December 2022 for all randomised clinical trials (RCT) evaluating any type of VR in patients undergoing any medical procedure. We conducted a random effect meta-analysis summarising standardised mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). We evaluated heterogeneity using I 2 and explored it using subgroup and meta-regression analyses. Results In total, we included 92 RCTs (n = 7133 participants). There was a significant reduction in pain scores with VR across all medical procedures (n = 83, SMD − 0.78, 95% CI − 1.00 to − 0.57, I 2 = 93%, p = < 0.01). Subgroup analysis showed varied reduction in pain scores across trial designs [crossover (n = 13, SMD − 0.86, 95% CI − 1.23 to − 0.49, I 2 = 72%, p = < 0.01) vs parallel RCTs (n = 70, SMD − 0.77, 95% CI − 1.01 to − 0.52, I 2 = 90%, p = < 0.01)]; participant age groups [paediatric (n = 43, SMD − 0.91, 95% CI − 1.26 to − 0.56, I 2 = 87%, p = < 0.01) vs adults (n = 40, SMD − 0.66, 95% CI − 0.94 to − 0.39, I 2 = 89%, p = < 0.01)] or procedures [venepuncture (n = 32, SMD − 0.99, 95% CI − 1.52 to − 0.46, I 2 = 90%, p = < 0.01) vs childbirth (n = 7, SMD − 0.99, 95% CI − 1.59 to − 0.38, I 2 = 88%, p = < 0.01) vs minimally invasive medical procedures (n = 25, SMD − 0.51, 95% CI − 0.79 to − 0.23, I 2 = 85%, p = < 0.01) vs dressing changes in burn patients (n = 19, SMD − 0.8, 95% CI − 1.16 to − 0.45, I 2 = 87%, p = < 0.01)]. We explored heterogeneity using meta-regression which showed no significant impact of different covariates including crossover trials (p = 0.53), minimally invasive procedures (p = 0.37), and among paediatric participants (p = 0.27). Cumulative meta-analysis showed no change in overall effect estimates with the additional RCTs since 2018. Conclusions Immersive VR technology offers effective pain control across various medical procedures, albeit statistical heterogeneity. Further research is needed to inform the safe adoption of this technology across different medical disciplines. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:57:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0090911002bc427c98b8c8317e22080a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1741-7015 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:57:04Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-0090911002bc427c98b8c8317e22080a2024-03-05T19:21:28ZengBMCBMC Medicine1741-70152024-02-0122112010.1186/s12916-024-03266-6Efficacy of virtual reality for pain relief in medical procedures: a systematic review and meta-analysisJhia J. Teh0Dominic J. Pascoe1Safiya Hafeji2Rohini Parchure3Adam Koczoski4Michael P. Rimmer5Khalid S. Khan6Bassel H. Al Wattar7Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College LondonSchool of Medicine, University of St AndrewsKings College HospitalUniversity College LondonDepartment of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College LondonMRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Institute of Regeneration and Repair, Edinburgh BioQuarter, University of EdinburghDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of GranadaUniversity College LondonAbstract Background Effective pain control is crucial to optimise the success of medical procedures. Immersive virtual reality (VR) technology could offer an effective non-invasive, non-pharmacological option to distract patients and reduce their experience of pain. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Immersive virtual reality (VR) technology in reducing patient’s pain perception during various medical procedures by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, and SIGLE until December 2022 for all randomised clinical trials (RCT) evaluating any type of VR in patients undergoing any medical procedure. We conducted a random effect meta-analysis summarising standardised mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). We evaluated heterogeneity using I 2 and explored it using subgroup and meta-regression analyses. Results In total, we included 92 RCTs (n = 7133 participants). There was a significant reduction in pain scores with VR across all medical procedures (n = 83, SMD − 0.78, 95% CI − 1.00 to − 0.57, I 2 = 93%, p = < 0.01). Subgroup analysis showed varied reduction in pain scores across trial designs [crossover (n = 13, SMD − 0.86, 95% CI − 1.23 to − 0.49, I 2 = 72%, p = < 0.01) vs parallel RCTs (n = 70, SMD − 0.77, 95% CI − 1.01 to − 0.52, I 2 = 90%, p = < 0.01)]; participant age groups [paediatric (n = 43, SMD − 0.91, 95% CI − 1.26 to − 0.56, I 2 = 87%, p = < 0.01) vs adults (n = 40, SMD − 0.66, 95% CI − 0.94 to − 0.39, I 2 = 89%, p = < 0.01)] or procedures [venepuncture (n = 32, SMD − 0.99, 95% CI − 1.52 to − 0.46, I 2 = 90%, p = < 0.01) vs childbirth (n = 7, SMD − 0.99, 95% CI − 1.59 to − 0.38, I 2 = 88%, p = < 0.01) vs minimally invasive medical procedures (n = 25, SMD − 0.51, 95% CI − 0.79 to − 0.23, I 2 = 85%, p = < 0.01) vs dressing changes in burn patients (n = 19, SMD − 0.8, 95% CI − 1.16 to − 0.45, I 2 = 87%, p = < 0.01)]. We explored heterogeneity using meta-regression which showed no significant impact of different covariates including crossover trials (p = 0.53), minimally invasive procedures (p = 0.37), and among paediatric participants (p = 0.27). Cumulative meta-analysis showed no change in overall effect estimates with the additional RCTs since 2018. Conclusions Immersive VR technology offers effective pain control across various medical procedures, albeit statistical heterogeneity. Further research is needed to inform the safe adoption of this technology across different medical disciplines.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-024-03266-6AnalgesiaPainSystematic reviewVirtual reality |
| spellingShingle | Jhia J. Teh Dominic J. Pascoe Safiya Hafeji Rohini Parchure Adam Koczoski Michael P. Rimmer Khalid S. Khan Bassel H. Al Wattar Efficacy of virtual reality for pain relief in medical procedures: a systematic review and meta-analysis BMC Medicine Analgesia Pain Systematic review Virtual reality |
| title | Efficacy of virtual reality for pain relief in medical procedures: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Efficacy of virtual reality for pain relief in medical procedures: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Efficacy of virtual reality for pain relief in medical procedures: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Efficacy of virtual reality for pain relief in medical procedures: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Efficacy of virtual reality for pain relief in medical procedures: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | efficacy of virtual reality for pain relief in medical procedures a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | Analgesia Pain Systematic review Virtual reality |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-024-03266-6 |
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