JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Virtual reality (VR) is a promising tool in healthcare, offering immersive and interactive environments that can enhance patient education, rehabilitation, and mental health interventions.

Objective:

We aimed to conceptualize VR health literacy and achieve expert consensus on its definition, domains, and subdomains.

Methods:

A three-phase modified Delphi study was conducted, including a scoping review, expert panel formation, and two survey rounds with 15 experts from healthcare, VR, and health literacy fields. Consensus was defined using interquartile ranges and agreement thresholds.

Results:

The final framework comprised 5 domains and 14 subdomains, covering performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, attitudes toward VR, and behavioral intention. Core subdomains included immersion, interactivity, technical proficiency, digital self-efficacy, and willingness to engage with VR health services.

Conclusions:

This study presents the first consensus-based framework of VR health literacy. Developed through a multidisciplinary Delphi process, the framework provides both theoretical clarity and practical utility, offering guidance for clinicians, educators, and policymakers to design and implement VR interventions that are accessible, equitable, and effective in healthcare contexts.