Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Serious Games
Date Submitted: Aug 4, 2025
Date Accepted: Apr 9, 2026
Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Intervention on Perioperative Anxiety, Depression, Blood pressure, and Heart rate: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
ABSTRACT
Background:
Preliminary evidence suggests that virtual reality technology has clinical application value in the treatment of patients during the perioperative period in clinical settings. This systematic review integrates evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the effects of virtual reality technology on anxiety, depression, blood pressure, and heart rate during the perioperative period. The research results aim to optimize evidence-based nursing intervention measures and develop clinical guidelines for incorporating virtual reality technology into the perioperative care pathway.
Objective:
To systematically evaluate the intervention effect of virtual reality technology on perioperative patients' anxiety.
Methods:
Randomized controlled trials on the intervention effect of virtual reality technology on perioperative patients' anxiety were searched from CNKI, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, SinoMed, Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, the Cochrane Library and other databases for the period from the establishment of the database to January 2025, with the time limit for searching. Literature was independently screened and data was extracted by two researchers according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and a meta-analysis of the included literature was performed using Stata 14.0.
Results:
Nineteen studies with 1748 patients were finally included, including 875 cases in the control group with conventional care and 873 cases in the experimental group with the addition of virtual reality technology (VR) interventions based on traditional care. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the anxiety scores of the experimental group were lower than those of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant [MD = -5.60, 95% CI (-6.55, -4.65), P < 0.05]. The depression score [MD=-5.98,95%CI (-8.05,-3.91)], systolic blood pressure [MD=-8.54,95%CI (-10.71,-6.37)], diastolic blood pressure [MD=-5.09,95%CI (-6.68,-3.51)] and heart rate [MD=-4.37,95%CI ( -5.59,-3.16)] were statistically significant (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Virtual reality technology can effectively improve perioperative patients' anxiety, relieve depression, and reduce their blood pressure and heart rate. Clinical Trial: This is a systematic review and meta-analysis, and it does not require clinical registration.
Citation
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Copyright
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