Virtual Reality-Based Mindfulness for Chronic Pain Management: A Scoping Review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to synthesize existing literature on VR-based mindfulness applications for managing chronic pain in adults.
Results Summary
The review found that VR-based mindfulness may improve chronic pain management, with benefits in physical and mental health, treatment engagement, and usability, though weak study designs and small sample sizes limited conclusions.
Population
Adults with chronic pain.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
virtual reality (VR)-based mindfulness applications | increase | chronic pain management | adults with chronic pain | - | could improve | #1 |
virtual reality (VR)-based mindfulness applications | increase | the practice of mindfulness | adults with chronic pain | - | enhancing | #2 |
virtual reality (VR)-based mindfulness applications | increase | physical and mental health benefits | adults with chronic pain | - | suggested | #3 |
virtual reality (VR)-based mindfulness applications | increase | treatment engagement and satisfaction | adults with chronic pain | - | suggested | #4 |
virtual reality (VR)-based mindfulness applications | increase | intervention usability | adults with chronic pain | - | suggested | #5 |
virtual reality (VR)-based mindfulness applications | decrease | the utility of the review results | - | - | limited | #6 |
virtual reality (VR)-based mindfulness applications | increase | health and other outcomes | people with chronic pain | - | should assess if they improve | #7 |
OBJECTIVES: To identify and synthesize the scientific literature on virtual reality (VR)-based mindfulness applications for the management of chronic pain in adults. DESIGN: A scoping review methodology was followed and conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guideline. DATA SOURCES: Combinations of key words related to "virtual reality", "mindfulness", and "chronic pain" were searched for in PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Scopus, and the Cochrane library databases. Title, abstracts, and full-text articles were screened against inclusion criteria. REVIEW/ANALYSIS METHODS: Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis approach was used. RESULTS: Seven studies were included in the review and their findings synthesized into three overarching themes: (1) physical and mental health benefits; (2) treatment engagement and satisfaction; and (3) intervention usability. The last theme had four subthemes which were cybersickness, physical limitations, technical support, and personalized design. CONCLUSIONS: While studies suggested VR could improve chronic pain management by enhancing the practice of mindfulness, weak study designs and small sample sizes limited the utility of the review results. Future research should rigorously co-design and test VR-based mindfulness applications with people with chronic pain to assess if they improve health and other outcomes.