Virtual reality (VR) is the capability to interact with a physical object or an environment digitally reproduced in a way that mimics a real-world experience. The technology is frequently used in healthcare settings to improve the mobility of rehabilitation patients or to offer some distraction and relaxation during medical procedures. VR is still at the beginning of its use and adoption within the clinical practice. This article provides an overview of the challenges and facilitators to the use of VR in healthcare settings.
The majority of the barriers discovered by this study in relation to the adopter category and organizational categories within the NASSS framework. They included the need for healthcare professionals to be trained and educated regarding VR, the lack of research and evidence about the added value of VR in the treatment context and the perceived lack of confidence and self-efficacy of using VR in patient care. Many studies have recommended the use of techniques for behavioral change, like education and training or intervision groups to assist clinicians in their decision-making procedures with respect to VR.
Facilitators were less often identified in the context of the young age of patients that could be more open to technology and feel more comfortable with it, or the fact that VR could create an immersive and interactive learning environment that stimulates the senses and fosters greater understanding of complex scientific concepts. Furthermore, the ability of VR to recreate real-world environments such as the surface of planets or the structure of atoms makes it a powerful educational tool that allows students to explore and explore abstract concepts that are difficult to grasp in traditional classrooms.
