Virtual Reality and Symptoms Management of Anxiety, Depression, Fatigue, and Pain: A Systematic Review

In recent years, virtual reality (VR) has become an interesting alternative to traditional exposure-based therapies for many symptoms. VR involves immersion in a computer-generated virtual environment that minimizes avoidance and facilitates emotional processing. The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate evidence on the intervention effect of VR on anxiety, depression, fatigue, and pain. The research strategy of this systematic review included three electronic databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, and ScienceDirect) based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Published quantitative studies from 2000 to 2020 were identified, which examined the effect of VR intervention on four different symptoms related to symptoms experienced by cancer patients. Quality assessments, data extractions, and analysis were completed on all included studies. A total of 882 titles and abstracts were screened, and 23 studies were included in the review. The studies were grouped according to the symptoms: anxiety and depression, fatigue, and pain. The review showed that VR intervention is more effective compared with the control (i.e., standard care) for anxiety, depression, fatigue, and pain. VR can reduce effectively these symptoms in different contexts and diseases, including cancer. The evidence suggests that there is value in exploring this intervention as a potential crossover treatment for these symptoms in patients. This study contributes to evidence that distraction is an effective symptom management mechanism. The findings are congruent with the theoretical framework, supporting the premise that VR, as an emotion-focused distraction intervention, decreases the severity of these symptoms.

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Virtual reality in social skills training programs for people with schizophrenia: A systematic review and focus group

British Journal of Occupational Therapy ◽

10.1177/03080226211011391 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 030802262110113

Author(s):

Catarina Oliveira ◽

Raquel Simões de Almeida ◽

António Marques

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Virtual Reality ◽

Social Skills ◽

Focus Group ◽

Social Skills Training ◽

Occupational Therapists ◽

Skills Training ◽

Training Programme ◽

Cochrane Library

Introduction This study aims to determine the guidelines for the design of a social skills training programme for people with schizophrenia using virtual reality. Methods This article encompasses two studies: Study 1, a systematic review of five articles indexed in the databases B-on, PubMed, Clinical trials and Cochrane Library (2010–2020); Study 2, a focus group of occupational therapists trained in mental health and multimedia professionals, in which they discussed the outline of such a programme. Results A set of guidelines were identified as central and consensual which should be included in the programme. It must have multilevel logic and gradual learning, with simulations of everyday situations, in which it is possible to practise the skills of conversation and communication. Virtual reality provides people with schizophrenia with unlimited opportunities, enhancing a personalized intervention. Conclusion Social skills training could be part of the treatment for people with schizophrenia, and virtual reality is a promising tool to complement traditional training, although still little implemented in mental health services. Occupational therapists have a prominent role in the development and application of this because of their knowledge of activity analysis and their ability to facilitate the generalization of skills in different contexts.

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Women’s leadership in academic medicine: a systematic review of extent, condition and interventions

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032232 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. e032232 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lulu Alwazzan ◽

Samiah S Al-Angari

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Leadership Development ◽

Academic Medicine ◽

Medical Schools ◽

Women's Leadership ◽

Research Quality ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Quantitative Studies ◽

The Impact

ObjectivesBecause culture reflects leadership, the making of diverse and inclusive medical schools begins with diversity among leaders. The inclusion of women leaders remains elusive, warranting a systematic exploration of scholarship in this area. We ask: (1) What is the extent of women’s leadership in academic medicine? (2) What factors influence women’s leadership? (3) What is the impact of leadership development programmes?DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesA systematic search of six online databases (OvidMEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library and ERIC) from the earliest date available to April 2018 was conducted. Bridging searches were conducted from April 2018 until October 2019.Eligibility criteria(1) Peer-reviewed; (2) English; (3) Quantitative studies (prospective and retrospective cohort, cross-sectional and preintervention/postintervention); evaluating (4) The extent of women’s leadership at departmental, college and graduate programme levels; (5) Factors influencing women’s leadership; (6) Leadership development programmes. Quantitative studies that explored women’s leadership in journal editorial boards and professional societies and qualitative study designs were excluded.Data extraction and synthesisTwo reviewers screened retrieved data of abstracts and full-texts for eligibility, assessment and extracted study-level data independently. The included studies were objectively appraised using the Medical Education Research Quality Study Instrument with an inter-rater reliability of (κ=0.93).ResultsOf 4024 records retrieved, 40 studies met the inclusion criteria. The extent of women’s leadership was determined through gender distribution of leadership positions. Women’s leadership emergence was hindered by institutional requirements such as research productivity and educational credentials, while women’s enactment of leadership was hindered by lack of policy implementation. Leadership development programmes had a positive influence on women’s individual enactment of leadership and on medical schools’ cultures.ConclusionsScholarship on women’s leadership inadvertently produced institute-centric rather than women-centric research. More robust contextualised scholarship is needed to provide practical-recommendations; drawing on existing conceptual frameworks and using more rigorous research methods.

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Improving Uptake of Postnatal Checking of Blood Glucose in Women Who Had Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Universal Healthcare Settings: A Systematic Review

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm8010004 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 4 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Helen Sanderson ◽

Emma Loveman ◽

Jill Colquitt ◽

Pamela Royle ◽

Norman Waugh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Gestational Diabetes ◽

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Financial Burden ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Universal Healthcare ◽

Healthcare Settings ◽

Health Complications ◽

Quality Assessments

The aim of this systematic review is to look at the barriers to uptake and interventions to improve uptake of postnatal screening in women who have had gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Increasing postnatal screening rates could lead to timely interventions that could reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the associated long-term health complications, and the financial burden of T2DM. A systematic review of the literature was undertaken. PubMed, Embase, Medline, CINAHL and the Cochrane library databases were searched using well-defined search terms. Predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to identify relevant manuscripts. Data extractions and quality assessments were performed by one reviewer and checked by a second reviewer. Eleven primary studies of various research design and three systematic reviews were included. We identified seven themes within these studies and these were described in two categories, barriers and interventions. There appeared to be no single intervention that would overcome all the identified barriers, however, reminders to women and healthcare professionals appear to be most effective. Uptake rates of testing for T2DM are low in women with GDM. Interventions developed with consideration of the identified barriers to uptake could promote greater numbers of women attending for follow-up.

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Effects of Virtual Reality Therapy on the Balance and Health-Related Quality of Life of Patients With Stroke: A Systematic Review

Journal of Modern Rehabilitation ◽

10.32598/jmr.14.1.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Hajra Ameer Shaikh ◽

Fouzia Hussain ◽

Darshan Kumar

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Virtual Reality ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Reality Therapy ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Virtual Reality Therapy ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

Introduction: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Despite the glowing advancement of Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT), clear evidence about its effectiveness in stroke is still scarce. Hence it is essential to review the current information to provide up-to-date insight. Therefore the aim of this review is to evaluate the effects of VRT on the balance and Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in patients with stroke.Data Sources: A literature search was done in Google Scholar, PEDro, Cochrane Library, Medline, Web of Science, and PubMed databases.Eligibility Criteria: We performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials published from June 2014 to January 2020, evaluating the effects of VRT on the balance and/or HRQoL in stroke. Fourteen eligible trials were analyzed, of which, 7 studies focused on balance and 7 on HRQoL.Quality Appraisal: Methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed using the Cochrane tool.Results: Most of the trials supported the effectiveness of VRT in improving balance and HRQoL. However, few trials reported similar improvements in HRQoL using VRT via Nintendo WiiTM games and conventional physiotherapy.Conclusions: High to moderate evidence supports the effectiveness of VRT use in improving balance and HRQoL in stroke survivors.

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Systematic review of telemedicine in spine surgery

Journal of Neurosurgery Spine ◽

10.3171/2020.6.spine20863 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

John Paul G. Kolcun ◽

Won Hyung A. Ryu ◽

Vincent C. Traynelis

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Patient Education ◽

Spine Surgery ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Current Increase ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Clinical Encounters ◽

Current Utilization ◽

The Cochrane Library ◽

Quality Assessments

OBJECTIVEThe use of telemedicine (TM) has long been available, but recent restrictions to hospitals due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have accelerated the global implementation of TM. However, evidence on the effectiveness of this technology for the care of spine surgery patients is limited. In this systematic review the authors aimed to examine the current utilization of TM for spine surgery.METHODSUsing PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library, the authors performed a systematic review of the literature focused on the themes of telemedicine and spine surgery. Included in the search were randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case-controlled studies. Two independent reviewers conducted the study appraisal, data abstraction, and quality assessments of the studies.RESULTSOut of 1463 references from the initial search results, 12 studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority of TM interventions focused on improving perioperative patient communication and patient education by using mobile phone apps, online surveys, or online materials for consent. The studies reported the feasibility of the use of TM for perioperative care and positive user experiences from the patients.CONCLUSIONSThe current increase in TM adoption due to the COVID-19 crisis presents an opportunity to further develop and validate this technology. Early evidence in the literature supports the use of TM as an adjunct to traditional in-person clinical encounters for certain perioperative tasks such as supplemental patient education and postoperative surveys.

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Global epidemiology of acromegaly: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/eje-21-0216 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Salvatore Crisafulli ◽

Nicoletta Luxi ◽

Janet Sultana ◽

Andrea Fontana ◽

Federica Spagnolo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Large Scale ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Geographic Area ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Pooled Prevalence ◽

Global Epidemiology ◽

Study Heterogeneity ◽

Quality Assessments

Objective: To date, no systematic reviews and meta-analysis on the global epidemiology of acromegaly are available in literature. The aims of this study are to provide a systematic review and a meta-analysis of the global epidemiology of acromegaly and to evaluate the quality of study reporting for the identified studies. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies assessing the epidemiology of acromegaly from inception until 31st January 2020. We included original observational studies written in English, reporting acromegaly prevalence and/or incidence for a well-defined geographic area. Two reviewers independently extracted data and performed quality assessments. Prevalence and incidence pooled estimates were derived performing a random-effects meta-analysis. Results: A total of 32 studies were included in the systematic review, and 22 of them were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of acromegaly was 5.9 (95%CI: 4.4-7.9) per 100,000 persons, while the incidence rate (IR) was 0.38 (95%CI: 0.32-0.44) cases per 100,000 person-years. For both prevalence and IR, a considerable between-study heterogeneity was found (I2= 99.3% and 86.0%, respectively). The quality of study reporting was rated as medium for 20 studies and low for 12 studies. Conclusions: Although the largest amount of heterogeneity was due to the high precision of the studies’ estimates, data source and geographic area could represent relevant study-levels factors which could explain about 50% of the total between-study variability. Large-scale high quality studies on the epidemiology of acromegaly are warranted to help the public health system in making decisions.

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Innovative Technology-Based Interventions to Reduce Stigma Toward People With Mental Illness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.35099 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Matías E. Rodríguez-Rivas ◽

Adolfo J. Cangas ◽

Laura A. Cariola ◽

Jorge J. Varela ◽

Sara Valdebenito

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Virtual Reality ◽

Video Games ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Medium Effect ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Innovative Technology ◽

Public Stigma ◽

People With Mental Illness

BACKGROUND Stigma towards people with mental illness presents serious consequences for the affected individuals, such as social exclusion and increased difficulties in the recovery process. Recently, several interventions have been developed to mitigate public stigma, based on the use of innovative technologies, such as virtual reality and video games. OBJECTIVE To systematically review, synthesize, measure, and critically discuss experimental studies that measure the effect of technological interventions and on stigmatization levels. METHODS This systematic review and meta-analysis was based on PRISMA guidelines, and included studies in English and Spanish published during the years 2016 and 2021. Searches were run in five different databases (i.e., Pubmed, PsycInfo, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Science Direct). Only randomized controlled trials were included. Two independent reviewers determined the eligibility, extracted data, and rated methodological quality of the studies. Meta-analyses were performed using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. RESULTS Based on the 1,158 articles screened, 72 articles were evaluated as full text, of which 9 articles were included in the qualitative and quantitative synthesis. A diversity of interventions was observed, including video games, audiovisual simulation of hallucinations, virtual reality, and electronic contact with mental health services users. The meta-analysis (n= 1,832 participants) demonstrated that these interventions had a consistent medium effect on reducing the level of public stigma (d=–0.64 95% CI 0.31-0.96; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS Innovative interventions involving the use of technologies are an effective tool in stigma reduction, therefore new challenges are proposed and discussed for the demonstration of their adaptability to different contexts and countries, thus leading to their massification.

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Virtual reality therapy to control burn pain: systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Journal of Burn Care & Research ◽

10.1093/jbcr/irab213 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Cristina Antonia de Jesus Catalã ◽

Raquel Pan ◽

Meline Rossetto Kron-Rodrigues ◽

Noélle de Oliveira Freitas

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Clinical Trials ◽

Virtual Reality ◽

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Reality Therapy ◽

Virtual Reality Therapy ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Language Restriction

Abstract Background Virtual reality therapy has been shown to be an excellent alternative to non-pharmacological treatment for the control of burn pain. Objective To evaluate the effects of virtual reality therapy on pain control in people who have suffered burns published in the scientific literature. Method Systematic review carried out as recommended by Cochrane®. The search was carried out in the Embase, PubMed, Lilacs and Cochrane Library databases, in the period from March 2021. Randomized clinical trials were included without language restriction and year of publication. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane® tool. Results Of the 3755 articles found, only 17 articles were selected for reading in full. Of these, only four articles met the inclusion criteria. The results of the studies showed that the use of virtual reality therapy reduced the intensity of pain in children and adolescents with burns, despite the fact that most results are not statistically significant. No selected study had a high risk of bias. Conclusions Virtual reality therapy has been shown to be effective in controlling pain, reducing the time spent thinking about it and greater distraction during the procedures. However, most randomized clinical trials results were not statistically significant in at least one of the moments when pain was assessed. It is noteworthy that randomized clinical trials are still necessary to administer virtual reality therapy, especially in adults.

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Illness perceptions of adults with eczematous skin diseases: a systematic mixed studies review

Systematic Reviews ◽

10.1186/s13643-021-01687-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Marc Rocholl ◽

Michaela Ludewig ◽

Carola Brakemeier ◽

Swen Malte John ◽

Annika Wilke

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Illness Perceptions ◽

Skin Diseases ◽

Well Being ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Qualitative And Quantitative ◽

Quantitative Studies ◽

Coping Processes ◽

Mixed Studies Review ◽

Systematic Mixed Studies Review

Abstract Background Eczematous skin diseases, e.g., atopic dermatitis or contact dermatitis, are associated with a high disease burden, a significant impact on quality of life and a higher risk for anxiety and depression. Therefore, coping strategies are of interest. In order to understand coping processes, it is necessary to examine the patients’ perspectives on their illness. The aim of this systematic mixed studies review is to investigate the illness perceptions of patients with eczematous skin diseases to get a better understanding of their coping processes. Methods We performed a systematic literature search in PubMed, The Cochrane Library, PsycInfo, PSYNDEX, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus until February 20, 2019. Both qualitative and quantitative studies were included in the review. Two independent reviewers conducted data extraction and carried out a narrative synthesis. We assessed study quality with the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Results Three qualitative and four quantitative studies were included in the systematic review. We found different methodological approaches for investigating illness perceptions: guided interviews, focus group interviews as well as standardized questionnaires, e.g., the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire. All studies report suspected causes of the skin disease, such as endogenous and exogenous causes (namely, psychological or occupational factors). We found long timeline beliefs as well as various perceived and experienced social, economic, and psychological consequences. Our analysis reveals complex emotional representations in patients with eczematous skin diseases, in particular impairment of emotional well-being, and feelings of shame or helplessness. Qualitative and quantitative data were predominantly complementary and convergent. Conclusion Patients with eczematous skin diseases have complex illness representations regarding their disease. These representations interrelate with the coping behavior of patients. Therefore, medical professionals should consider them for counseling and treatment. Systematic review registration PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018109217.

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Virtual reality in interventional radiology education: a systematic review

Radiologia Brasileira ◽

10.1590/0100-3984.2020.0162 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 54 (4) ◽

pp. 254-260

Author(s):

And Yara Particelli Gelmini ◽

Márcio Luís Duarte ◽

André Moreira de Assis ◽

Josias Bueno Guimarães Junior ◽

Francisco César Carnevale

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Medical Education ◽

Virtual Reality ◽

Interventional Radiology ◽

Latin American ◽

Skill Acquisition ◽

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

Quality Criteria ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Virtual Reality Simulation

Abstract The aim of this study was to compare virtual reality simulation with other methods of teaching interventional radiology. We searched multiple databases-Cochrane Library; Medline (PubMed); Embase; Trip Medical; Education Resources Information Center; Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature; Scientific Electronic Library Online; and Latin-American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature-for studies comparing virtual reality simulation and other methods of teaching interventional radiology. This systematic review was performed in accordance with the criteria established by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and the Best Evidence Medical Education (BEME) Collaboration. Eligible studies were evaluated by using the quality indicators provided in the BEME Guide No. 11 and the Kirkpatrick model of training evaluation. After the eligibility and quality criteria had been applied, five randomized clinical trials were included in the review. The Kirkpatrick level of impact varied among the studies evaluated, three studies being classified as level 2B and two being classified as level 4B. Among the studies evaluated, there was a consensus that virtual reality aggregates concepts and is beneficial for the teaching of interventional radiology. Although the use of virtual reality has been shown to be effective for skill acquisition and learning in interventional radiology, there is still a lack of studies evaluating and standardizing the employment of this technology in relation to the numerous procedures that exist within the field of expertise.

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