JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Ineffective postoperative pain management is associated with several negative consequences, including increased morbidity, impaired physical function and quality of life, delayed recovery, prolonged opioid use during and after hospitalization, and increased healthcare costs. Traditional pain management therapies, including pharmacological interventions, have several drawbacks, particularly in children, with growing concerns over long-term opioid abuse. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological intervention for pain management in various clinical settings. VR technology immerses individuals in computer-generated environments, providing them with multisensory experiences that can distract and engage their attention, ultimately reducing their perception of pain. Evidence from various studies demonstrates beneficial effects of using VR for pediatric pain management, with improvements in pain outcomes, including decreased pain intensity and pain symptoms, as well as reduced need for rescue analgesia. Throughout this review, we address the major concepts related to VR, the use of VR in differing clinical situations, various VR-based therapy methods, and the practicality of VR to alleviate pain, as well as several key findings to date and future directions.