{"title":"The Use of Virtual Reality as an Innovative Intervention for Managing Anxiety in Chemotherapy Patients: A Systematic Literature Review.","authors":"Giorgia Gaudino, Ettore Palma, Sergio Ferrante, Diego Lopane, Chiara Coldani, Daniela Cattani, Alessandra Dacomi, Giuseppina Tomaiuolo, Stefano Mancin, Beatrice Mazzoleni","doi":"10.1016/j.soncn.2025.151908","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To evaluate the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (VR) as an innovative non-pharmacological intervention to reduce anxiety and alleviate emotional distress in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic literature review was conducted between March and May 2024 across PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, and MedRxiv databases, following PRISMA guidelines. The review included studies on immersive and non-immersive VR interventions in chemotherapy settings. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute tools, and the certainty of evidence was evaluated through the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine framework.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seven studies involving a total of 594 participants were included. Across all studies, VR interventions significantly reduced anxiety levels during chemotherapy (P < .05). Immersive VR consistently functioned as a distraction tool, offering relaxation and emotional relief.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Immersive virtual reality appears to be an effective and safe complementary intervention to reduce anxiety in oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy. Despite promising findings, further high-quality research is needed to confirm these results and assess long-term effects.</p><p><strong>Implications for nursing practice: </strong>VR can be integrated into clinical nursing practice as an innovative, non-invasive strategy to enhance the emotional well-being of patients receiving chemotherapy. Nurses should receive appropriate training to administer VR interventions and contribute to multidisciplinary efforts in supportive cancer care.</p>","PeriodicalId":54253,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Oncology Nursing","volume":" ","pages":"151908"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Seminars in Oncology Nursing","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soncn.2025.151908","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"NURSING","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (VR) as an innovative non-pharmacological intervention to reduce anxiety and alleviate emotional distress in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted between March and May 2024 across PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, and MedRxiv databases, following PRISMA guidelines. The review included studies on immersive and non-immersive VR interventions in chemotherapy settings. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute tools, and the certainty of evidence was evaluated through the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine framework.
Results: Seven studies involving a total of 594 participants were included. Across all studies, VR interventions significantly reduced anxiety levels during chemotherapy (P < .05). Immersive VR consistently functioned as a distraction tool, offering relaxation and emotional relief.
Conclusions: Immersive virtual reality appears to be an effective and safe complementary intervention to reduce anxiety in oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy. Despite promising findings, further high-quality research is needed to confirm these results and assess long-term effects.
Implications for nursing practice: VR can be integrated into clinical nursing practice as an innovative, non-invasive strategy to enhance the emotional well-being of patients receiving chemotherapy. Nurses should receive appropriate training to administer VR interventions and contribute to multidisciplinary efforts in supportive cancer care.
期刊介绍：
Seminars in Oncology Nursing is a unique international journal published six times a year. Each issue offers a multi-faceted overview of a single cancer topic from a selection of expert review articles and disseminates oncology nursing research relevant to patient care, nursing education, management, and policy development.
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