The effect of virtual reality technology on the intervention of mental health problems among healthcare workers: a systematic review

Resumo original em inglês

O que aconteceu

Systematic evaluation of the effectiveness of virtual reality technology in intervening in mental health problems of healthcare workers (PROSPERO: CRD42024558009).

PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, China Wanfang Database, and China Biology Medicine disk were systematically searched from inception to May 21, 2025. We included experimental and quasi-experimental studies that examined the effects of VR interventions on mental health outcomes (stress, anxiety, burnout, or fatigue) in healthcare workers. Studies were excluded if they were not published in English or Chinese, if full texts or required data were unavailable, or if they were duplicate publications. The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Methodological quality was assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) tool, and meta-analyses were performed using RevMan 5.4 software.

O que encontraram

2,133 articles were identified through database searching. Ten studies published between 2021 and 2023, with 493 participants, were included in the review. Of these, there were three randomized cross-over trials, and seven were one-group pretest-posttest trials. The findings showed that both the stress and anxiety scores before and after the VR intervention were statistically significant [SMD = -0.64, 95% CI (-1.17, -0.11), p = 0.02], and [SMD = -0.51, 95% CI (-0.76, -0.27), p < 0.0001]. Since a meta-analysis of the burnout, fatigue, and satisfaction levels was not possible, a descriptive analysis was carried out. Exhaustion and burnout may be lessened following the intervention. The majority of the medical team expressed satisfaction with VR's ability to alleviate mental health issues. Three studies received an EPHPP rating of 'strong', five were 'moderate', and two were 'weak'.

Por que isso importa

Existing evidence suggests that virtual reality technology is effective in improving stress and anxiety in healthcare workers, but more high-quality studies are needed to further validate whether it can improve burnout and fatigue.

Resumo publicado sob licença CC BY. A tradução para o português ainda não chegou a este estudo.