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Intensive Care Unit Patients' Perspectives and Experiences in Using Virtual Reality Technology: A Qualitative
Guiling Liao1,2, Zhiqun Liu3, Tao Zhang2
1College of Nursing, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China.
Background:
As Intensive Care Unit (ICU) survival improves, attention has shifted towards patients' psychological well-being and recovery. Although Virtual Reality (VR) is increasingly used in critical care, patients' experiences of VR interventions have not been comprehensively synthesised.
Aim:
To synthesise qualitative and mixed-methods evidence regarding ICU patients' perceptions, experiences and implementation-related considerations associated with VR interventions.
Methods:
A qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis following Thomas and Harden's three-stage approach was conducted. Eight databases were searched from inception to September 2025. Studies employing qualitative methods or components of mixed methods exploring ICU patients' firsthand VR experiences were included. Methodological quality was appraised using the JBI checklist.
Results:
Eight studies involving 247 participants were included. Four analytical themes were synthesised: (A) VR as a restorative escape, (B) VR as a route from passive endurance to active participation, (C) Patient readiness and personal preference shape VR engagement, and (D) VR as a co-produced intervention requiring contextual and relational adaptation.
Conclusions:
ICU patients perceived VR as a valuable tool that provided restorative escape and enabled active recovery, yet multiple barriers shaped its feasibility. Implementation should consider comfortable devices, customisable content and staff training. These findings inform patient-centred VR design in the ICU.
Relevance To Clinical Practice:
VR offers a non-pharmacological approach that may support patient well-being and recovery during an ICU stay. It can provide meaningful focus and relief from distress, while encouraging engagement with rehabilitation. Nurses play a key role in facilitating sessions and assessing patient readiness. Implementation may be enhanced by comfortable, bed-compatible devices, customisable content and staff training. While not all patients may be suitable candidates, VR appears generally acceptable and could be integrated into individualised care plans.
Review Registration:
The review protocol had been registered in PROSPERO (International prospective register of systematic reviews). The registration number is CRD420251074650.