Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39103681›Full record

SynthesisSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2024

Application of virtual reality for supportive care in cancer patients: a systematic review.

Mahsa Fereidooni, Esmaeel Toni, Elham Toni, Haleh Ayatollahi

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 2 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

11 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. 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
  3. Effectiveness of smartphone-based virtual reality relaxation (SVR) for enhancing comfort in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: a randomized controlled trial.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2024
    Trial
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Immersive virtual nature for improving psychological distress of breast cancer patients undergoing intravenous chemotherapy.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Article
  7. Article
  8. Assessing safety and feasibility of virtual reality intervention in patients with lung cancer: a pilot study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Article
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

4 authors.

Mahsa FereidooniDepartment of Health Information Technology, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
Esmaeel ToniStudent Research Committee, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. toni.e@iums.ac.ir.
Elham ToniDepartment of Health Information Management and Technology, Faculty of Management and Health Information Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Haleh AyatollahiHealth Management and Economics Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ayatollahi.h@iums.ac.ir.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3974-3648

Funding

Iran University of Medical Sciences 1402-2-113-26386
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn recent years, virtual reality (VR) technology has been widely used to support cancer patients with physical, emotional, and functional needs. This systematic review aimed to investigate the application of VR in the supportive care of cancer patients.

methodThis systematic review was conducted in 2024. In this study, various databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, Ovid, IEEE Xplore, and ProQuest were searched, and quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method studies which were in English and published up to 20th May 2024 were included. The keywords consisted of "virtual reality," "supportive care," and "cancer". Studies were assessed in terms of quality and risk of bias using standard tools, and results were analyzed and reported narratively.

resultsA total of 33 articles were reviewed. VR interventions, primarily using fully immersive head-mounted displays, were associated with significant reductions in anxiety, pain, and fatigue. VR also improved mood, relaxation, and overall quality of life, and some studies noted enhanced vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure. This technology could be used along with other medical interventions. Both patients and healthcare providers reported high level of satisfaction with VR, and appreciated its ease of use and therapeutic benefits. However, some technical barriers, like inadequate visual performance and realism, were reported.

conclusionVR demonstrates substantial potential benefits as a supportive care tool for cancer patients, effectively addressing their psychological, physiological, psychosocial needs. Despite technical challenges, high level of user satisfaction and benefits underscore the need for further research to optimize VR interventions in cancer care.

Indexed as

NeoplasmsQuality of LifeVirtual RealityAnxietyFatigueHumansCancerSupportive careSystematic reviewVirtual reality

Identifiers

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.