Virtual reality (VR) is the ability to interact with an object or environment digitally reproduced to simulate the real-world environment. VR is typically used in healthcare settings to aid mobility in rehabilitation patients, or to offer the ability to relax and distract during medical procedures. However, VR is still in the early stages of adoption and use in the practice of clinical medicine. In this article, we present a scoping review of the literature available, identifying obstacles and facilitators to the use of VR in healthcare settings.
The majority of the barriers found in this study were related to the adopter system and organization categories of the NASSS framework, specifically the need of healthcare professionals for education and training in VR, the lack of research and evidence regarding the added value of VR in the treatment context, and the perceived low self-efficacy, confidence and willingness to apply and work with VR during the course of patient care. Many studies suggested the use of behavioral modification techniques such as education and training, or intervision groups in order to aid clinicians in their decision making process regarding VR use.
Facilitators were not as often recognized because of the younger age of patients who may be more open to new technology and more comfortable using it. It is also the fact that VR creates an immersive and interactive environment which stimulates the senses and promotes an understanding of more complex scientific ideas. Moreover, the ability of VR to recreate real-world environments, such as the planet’s surface or the structure of atoms makes it a powerful education tool for students to explore and experiment with abstract and complex ideas that are difficult to comprehend in traditional classrooms.