SynthesisPalliative medicine2022
How effective is virtual reality technology in palliative care? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Palliative medicine, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 21 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Study With Cancer Patients at the CECON Foundation's Pain Therapy and Palliative Care Service: Meditation With Immersive Virtual Reality for Pain Relief
Virtual Reality Nature Therapy for Palliative Patients and Caregivers in Saudi Arabia: A Randomized Controlled Trial to Support Quality of Life and Cultural Adaptation
Who cites it
21 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Using Virtual Reality to Improve Outcomes Related to Quality of Life Among Older Adults With Serious Illnesses: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Pooled it
- Application of virtual reality for supportive care in cancer patients: a systematic review.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2024Pooled it
- Strategies for Implementing Palliative Care Services for Cancer Patients in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.Inquiry : a journal of medical care organization, provision and financingPooled it
- A randomized controlled trial of virtual reality-based relaxation to reduce pre-exam stress among nursing students.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Trial
- Artificial intelligence and virtual reality-based communication skills training in nursing education: a systematic review with implications for palliative care.BMC nursing · 2026Article
- The Impact of Patient and Professional Users' Involvement in Implementation for Virtual Reality in Hospitalised Palliative Cancer Patients in a German Cancer Centre-A Qualitative Analysis.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- "I Don't Get to Feel This Good Very Often:" Virtual Reality Intervention for Veterans Receiving End-of-Life Care.Journal of palliative medicine · 2026Article
- Korean Society of Heart Failure Guidelines for the Palliative Care and Hospice for Heart Failure Patients.International journal of heart failure · 2026Review
- Mapping study on AI-based technologies in palliative care - a scoping study.BMC palliative care · 2025Article
- Embracing goodbye: A personal reflection on virtual reality intervention in palliative care.Palliative & supportive care · 2025Article
- Virtual reality technology for pain management in advanced cancer.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2024Article
- Expected benefits and concerns regarding virtual reality in caring for terminally ill cancer patients - a qualitative interview study.BMC palliative care · 2024Article
- My virtual escape from patient life: a feasibility study on the experiences and benefits of individualized virtual reality for inpatients in palliative cancer care.BMC palliative care · 2024Observational
- Virtual Reality Videos for Symptom Management in Hospice and Palliative Care.Mayo Clinic proceedings. Digital health · 2024Article
- Extended Reality Head-Mounted Displays Are Likely to Pose a Significant Risk in Medical Settings While Current Classification Remains as Non-Critical.Microorganisms · 2024Review
- Virtual Reality in Clinical Nursing Practice Over the Past 10 Years: Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses.JMIR serious games · 2023Review
- Positive Psychological Intervention Delivered Using Virtual Reality in Patients on Hemodialysis With Comorbid Depression: Protocol and Design for the Joviality Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR research protocols · 2023Article
- 'Godrevy Project': virtual reality for symptom control and well-being in oncology and palliative care - a non-randomised pre-post interventional trial.BMJ oncology · 2023Article
- Integrating knowledge, skills, and attitudes: professional training required for virtual reality therapists in palliative care.Frontiers in medical technology · 2023Article
- Need for a 'VR-cebo' and more robust evaluations of virtual reality intervention.BMJ oncology · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe efficacy of virtual reality for people living with a terminal illness is unclear.
aimTo determine the feasibility and effectiveness of virtual reality use within a palliative care setting.
designSystematic review and meta-analysis. PROSPERO (CRD42021240395). DATA SOURCES: Medline, Embase, AMED, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Web of Science were searched from inception to March 2021. Search terms included 'virtual reality' and 'palliative care'. Eligibility: (1) adult (>18 years old) with a terminal illness (2) at least one virtual reality session and (3) feasibility data and/or at least one patient outcome reported. The ROB-2 and ROBINS tools assessed risk of bias. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) tool assessed the quality of the evidence. Standardised mean differences (Hedges's
resultsEight studies were included, of which five were in the meta-analysis. All studies had at least some concern for risk of bias. Virtual reality statistically significantly improved pain (
conclusionsVirtual reality in palliative care is feasible and acceptable. However, limited sample sizes and very low-quality studies mean that the efficacy of virtual reality needs further research.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.