Integration of Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Extended Reality in Healthcare and Medical Education: A Glimpse into the Emerging Horizon in LMICs-A Systematic Review.

Abstract

Objective: Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that incorporates digital information into user's physical surroundings. It represents a paradigm shift in medical treatment and education. AR aides in surgical planning and patient therapy, as well as assisting patients in comprehending difficult medical problems. AR is evident in several facets of medicine, and there is a significant need for helping systems as a result of the increasing stress placed on public health systems during pandemics. The use of virtual reality (VR) and AR in surgery, dentistry, telemedicine, self-care, and wellness treatments has already improved many areas of healthcare.

Method: This systematic review adheres to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis checklist and was conducted using PubMed and Scopus databases with keywords such as "Augmented Reality (AR)," "Virtual Reality (VR)," "Extended Reality (XR)," "Medical Education," "Surgical Planning," "Clinical Training," and "Patient Therapy." Boolean operators (AND, OR) were applied, and through a systematic review process, 21 peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2024 were analyzed.

Results: The usage of ARs and VRs in medical education is of great interest since they blend physical and digital learning features. Of the 21 studies (2021-2024), 8 systematic reviews and 3 randomized controlled trials showed that XR was effective in medical education (5 studies) and surgical planning (4 studies). Six studies identified low- and middle-income countries' limitations (eg, costs, infrastructure), but one research found that non-XR approaches were successful in resource-limited locations. Common drawbacks were limited sample sizes (3 studies) and database biases (2 studies). XR showed transformational potential but needed equitable scalability techniques.

Conclusion: The primary goal of this systematic review is to provide insight into AR research, identify potential future trends, and serve as inspiration for healthcare professionals, medical college professors, researchers, and scientists working in the fields of AR, VR, and XR in the healthcare industry.