Effects of virtual reality on relieving postoperative pain in surgical patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

研究概要

Eight studies with 723 patients undergoing surgery were included in this meta-analysis comparing virtual reality (VR) interventions and control for the reduction of post-operative pain. The outcome of interest was pain scores post-operation. Additionally, sub-group analyses were performed by the type of surgery (i.e., major, minor) and the timing of VR application (i.e., pre-operation, intra-operation, and post-operation). Results of this meta-analysis demonstrated statistically significantly favourable pooled pain scores for the VR group compared to the control group (p=0.002). In the sub-group analysis by surgery type, pooled pain scores were statistically significantly in favour of the VR group compared to the control group in both major and minor surgeries (p<0.00001, p=0.003; respectively). In the sub-group analysis by timing of application, pooled pain scores were statistically significantly in favour of the VR group compared to the control group when applied intra-operatively (p<0.00001) and post-operatively (p=0.0002), but not pre-operatively (p=0.96).