SynthesisJournal of pain and symptom management2026
Efficacy of Virtual Reality in Managing Pain for Patients in Palliative Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Synthesis in Journal of pain and symptom management, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis 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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Effects of different interventions based on virtual reality on cognitive and motor function in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment or dementia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2026Pooled it
- Telemedicine and Virtual Reality Technologies in Pain Management for Cancer Patients: A Structured Narrative Review.Current treatment options in oncology · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundPain management in palliative care, especially among cancer patients, remains a critical challenge that significantly affects patient quality of life. Virtual Reality (VR) has emerged as a promising nonpharmacological intervention that could revolutionize pain management strategies in this vulnerable population. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluate the effectiveness of VR interventions, focusing exclusively on randomized controlled trials to provide a comprehensive assessment of VR as a therapeutic tool.
methodsThis systematic review and meta-analysis followed the JBI methodology for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). English-language RCTs evaluating VR for pain management in adult palliative care cancer patients were included. Due to COVID-19-related publication delays, the search extended beyond the standard five-year scope. Keywords used included "virtual reality," "pain management," "palliative care," and "cancer patients," across databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO. Exclusions covered nonrandomized studies and those with methodological flaws. Study selection was conducted using Covidence. Data analysis was performed using STATA V. 17, calculating standardized mean differences (SMDs) for pain measurement scales.
resultsThe analysis of ten trials demonstrated VR's capability to significantly reduce pain intensity in palliative care. The pooled effect size showed a moderate to large reduction in pain, with enhanced effectiveness observed in longer VR sessions and with interactive content. Despite variability, the consistent findings support VR's potential as a flexible and adaptable approach to pain management.
conclusionsVirtual reality offers a promising alternative for pain management in palliative care, highlighting the necessity for standardized protocols and further research into its long-term effects and economic viability. To gain a deeper understanding of how VR affects patient experiences and outcomes, future research should implement mixed-methods studies that combine quantitative data with qualitative insights. This approach will allow for a more comprehensive evaluation of VR's impact on the quality of life and pain management strategies, ensuring that interventions are tailored to meet the complex needs of palliative care patients. STUDY REGISTRATION: The current study registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under the registration number [CRD42024512961].
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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.