Virtual reality (VR) is the ability to interact with a digitally replicable environment or object that mimics an actual experience for the user. The technology is often applied in healthcare settings to aid the movement of patients in rehabilitation or to provide the ability to relax and distract during medical procedures. However, VR is in the early stages of implementation and acceptance within clinical practice. This article offers a scoping review identifying barriers and facilitators to the implementation VR in healthcare settings.
The majority of barriers that were identified in this study are related to the adopter system and organization categories of the NASSS framework, particularly the needs of healthcare professionals for education and training on VR, the absence of research and evidence on the value of VR in the context of treatment and the perceived low self-efficacy as well as confidence to use and use VR during patient care. Many studies suggested the use of behavioral modification techniques like education and training or intervision groups to aid the clinicians in their decision-making processes with regard to VR use.
Facilitators were less frequently identified, such as the young age of patients that could be more open to new technologies and feel more comfortable using it, or the fact that VR can provide an immersive and interactive learning environment that stimulates the senses and encourages deeper understanding of complex scientific concepts. VR's ability to recreate real-world settings such as the surface or structure of atoms, makes it an effective educational tool that lets students explore and experiment abstract and complex concepts.