Virtual reality as an intervention for adult burn patients: an integrative review

Abstract

Background: Virtual reality (VR) allows burn patients to engage in a virtual world and can provide patients with a distraction from pain. Aims: To assess the types of VR models available for use in the adult burn population and determine their efficacy regarding pain management and other health outcomes. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines guided this review. We searched the databases of CINAHL and PubMed to identify the peer-reviewed journals that matched the inclusion criteria. We utilised the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) quality appraisal tools to evaluate the selected studies. Results: The search results ended in nine studies. The types of VR identified included passive and active scenarios with a focus on natural environments. The findings of the quantitative studies indicated that VR decreased patients’ pain during therapeutic interventions. In contrast, the findings of most qualitative studies revealed that VR provided distraction for patients during wound care. Regarding secondary outcomes, VR was shown to improve hand rehabilitation, anxiety and pulmonary functions. Conclusion: This integrative review contributes to nursing by synthesising the evidence on VR as a non-pharmacological and complementary intervention to manage pain among adult burn patients. The implications of this review in nursing practice include consideration of staff training and technical support for practising nurses to successfully and safely implement the VR experience into their practice. Healthcare policies should delineate the best practices for VR use among burn patients to guide its implementation, funds to cover the costs of VR equipment, and equitable access to VR experience for all adult burn patients.