Application of Virtual Reality in Hospitals: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction: Due to the increasing use of virtual reality (VR) technology in the healthcare field, the present study was conducted to systematically investigate the use of VR in hospitals. Method: To access related articles, the keywords "Virtual Reality" and "Hospital" and their synonyms were searched in databases of Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar without a time limit until August 15, 2022. The original articles that were published in English and dealt with "the application of virtual reality in the hospital" were included in the study, and their characteristics were analyzed. Results: Eleven articles were included in the present study, in which various applications for VR in the hospital environment have been reported. The most common uses of VR in hospitals are as follows: managing behavioral symptoms, creating relaxation and inducing positive emotions in patients, providing treatment and physical, mental, and emotional rehabilitation in patients, providing training for care providers in different hospital departments, virtual presence at home for hospitalized children and teenagers; VR can also work as a supplement to the procedure for the children's lives and an adaptive substitute for experiences in the real environment for the medical residents. . Conclusion: Considering the positive impact of using VR in hospitals, using this technology as an auxiliary tool to improve education, treatment, and prevention in the healthcare system is suggested.