Virtual Reality in Health Information and Patient Outcomes: A Literature Review

Area of Science:

• Medical Education Technology
• Health Informatics
• Patient Engagement

Background:

• Virtual Reality (VR) is increasingly explored as a tool for patient education.
• Understanding VR's impact on patient comprehension and health outcomes is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and evaluate the current knowledge on VR as a patient education instrument.
• To assess how VR-based health information delivery influences patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify relevant studies.
• Extracted study characteristics, VR methods, and outcomes to synthesize findings.
• Identified diverse applications and potential implementation areas for VR in patient education.

Main Results:

• VR demonstrates positive effects on patient education, enhancing knowledge and self-efficacy.
• Improvements were observed in psychological and physiological patient outcomes.
• VR applications show efficacy in preventive care, discharge education, symptom management, and preoperative preparation.

Conclusions:

• Virtual Reality (VR) effectively augments patient education, which is critical for optimal health outcomes.
• VR-delivered health information can significantly impact patient adherence and compliance with treatment plans.