Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36633695›Full record

SynthesisSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2023

Effects of virtual reality on physical, cognitive, and psychological outcomes in cancer rehabilitation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Jie Hao, Yanfei Li, Rebecca Swanson, Zhen Chen, Ka-Chun Siu

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
16citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

16 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Virtual reality for cancer symptom management: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. 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 · 2024
    Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Trial
  6. Article
  7. Experiences and perceptions of cancer patients receiving virtual reality therapy: a meta‑synthesis of qualitative research.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Review
  8. Review
  9. Review
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Review
  13. Virtual reality-based supportive care interventions for patients with cancer: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2024
    Review
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  15. Article
  16. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Jie HaoDivision of Physical Therapy Education, Department of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Allied Health Professions, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-4420, USA.
Yanfei LiDivision of Physical Therapy Education, Department of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Allied Health Professions, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-4420, USA.
Rebecca SwansonDivision of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-6878, USA.
Zhen ChenDepartment of Neurorehabilitation, The First Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, China.
Ka-Chun SiuDivision of Physical Therapy Education, Department of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Allied Health Professions, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-4420, USA. kcsiu@unmc.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo systematically examine and summarize the current evidence regarding the effects of virtual reality (VR) on physical, cognitive, and psychological outcomes in cancer rehabilitation.

methodsSix bioscience and engineering databases were searched. Two independent reviewers screened the titles and abstracts of 2397 records and retrieved 25 full-text articles. Inclusion criteria included patients with a current or previous diagnosis of cancer; VR was used as an intervention for physical, cognitive, or psychological impairments and functional limitations; and clinical trials with at least two arms and with both pre- and post-intervention assessments. Reviewers assessed methodological quality using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale.

resultsSeventeen studies including 799 patients with cancer were identified. Within-group pooled analysis indicated that patients demonstrated significant improvement in pain (P < 0.001), fatigue (P < 0.001), anxiety (P < 0.001), upper extremity function (P < 0.001), and quality of life (P = 0.008) after VR intervention. Between-group pooled analysis indicated significant improvements with VR in pain (P = 0.004), anxiety (P < 0.001), and upper extremity function (P < 0.001) compared with the control. Three studies reported the positive effects of VR on cognition.

conclusionsVR demonstrates promising effects in physical, cognitive, and psychological aspects of patients with cancer. VR can be incorporated into a comprehensive cancer rehabilitation program to alleviate impairments and functional limitations.

Indexed as

NeoplasmsVirtual RealityCognitionHumansPainQuality of LifeFunctionImpairmentOncologyPhysical therapySimulation

Identifiers

PMID36633695

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.