Abstract
Background: Recently, healthcare services have witnessed an exponential increase in the use of immersive and non-immersive virtual reality (VR) technology to improve health-related outcomes. However, the use of VR in palliative care remains relatively unexplored.
Aims: To review and synthesise evidence regarding the experiences of patients, families and healthcare professionals in palliative care who have engaged with immersive/non-immersive VR technology.
Methods: A systematic integrative review using pre-defined MeSH search terms to identify eligible studies from five electronic databases (Cochrane Library, CINAHL, OVID Medline, Pubmed and Scopus) between April 2020 and February 2021.
Findings: In total, 1066 articles were reviewed, 55 articles were considered eligible and subject to further analysis and a total of 16 articles met the inclusion criteria and were subject to critical appraisal. Rigorous analysis of eligible articles resulted in the identification of five overarching and interconnected themes: connection, VR as an emergent technology, perceptual change, safety, and future research.
Conclusion: This review identified that VR could support patients, families and healthcare professionals in palliative care. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the findings could prove particularly significant for facilitating connection. However, further research is necessary to explore the full scope of VR use in this speciality.
Aims: To review and synthesise evidence regarding the experiences of patients, families and healthcare professionals in palliative care who have engaged with immersive/non-immersive VR technology.
Methods: A systematic integrative review using pre-defined MeSH search terms to identify eligible studies from five electronic databases (Cochrane Library, CINAHL, OVID Medline, Pubmed and Scopus) between April 2020 and February 2021.
Findings: In total, 1066 articles were reviewed, 55 articles were considered eligible and subject to further analysis and a total of 16 articles met the inclusion criteria and were subject to critical appraisal. Rigorous analysis of eligible articles resulted in the identification of five overarching and interconnected themes: connection, VR as an emergent technology, perceptual change, safety, and future research.
Conclusion: This review identified that VR could support patients, families and healthcare professionals in palliative care. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the findings could prove particularly significant for facilitating connection. However, further research is necessary to explore the full scope of VR use in this speciality.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 132-144 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | International Journal of Palliative Nursing |
| Volume | 28 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 02 Mar 2022 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- digital health
- healthcare technology
- palliative care
- virtual reality