VIRTUAL REALITY

This study tested whether an immersive virtual reality (VR) diet education program could help people with fatty liver disease manage their condition. Twenty participants tried the VR program, which teaches about food portions and meal prep, and compared it to traditional in-perso…

This study tested whether distraction techniques could make a heart imaging procedure called coronary angiography less stressful and painful. 120 patients were randomly assigned to either use virtual reality glasses, listen to music, or receive standard care during the procedure.…

This study tested whether wearing virtual reality (VR) glasses during a common kidney stone treatment could help patients feel less pain and anxiety. Researchers compared 70 patients receiving the shock wave treatment, with some using VR glasses and others receiving standard care…

This study tested whether specially designed virtual reality exercises could improve arm and shoulder movement in people with Parkinson's disease. Forty-four participants with Parkinson's performed VR-based position-matching games aimed at their upper limbs. Researchers measured …

This study tested whether a virtual reality (VR) relaxation app is practical and acceptable for patients staying in psychiatric hospital wards. Researchers worked with 43 patients and staff to design and then try the VR therapy in drop-in sessions. The goal was to see if VR could…

This study tested whether using virtual reality and relaxation exercises could help people feel better after having their wisdom teeth removed. Researchers compared three groups: one doing relaxation exercises, one using VR plus relaxation, and a standard care group. They measure…

This study tested whether using simple distraction tools could make insulin injections easier for older adults with type 2 diabetes. Researchers compared virtual reality headsets and stress balls against usual care in 90 patients to see if they reduced pain and anxiety during sho…

This study tested whether a virtual reality exercise program done at home could help children with arm weakness (hemiplegia) improve their hand and arm function. Researchers compared the VR program to standard therapy in 25 children. The goal was to see if fun, game-like exercise…

This small pilot study explored whether using a virtual reality (VR) headset could help reduce anxiety in adult patients during the 'pre-oxygenation' step just before they go under general anesthesia for elective surgery. Researchers wanted to see if the VR experience was practic…

This study tested two simple, drug-free methods to help adults feel less pain and anxiety during routine blood draws. Researchers compared using a virtual reality headset to practicing deep breathing exercises. They found that deep breathing was better at reducing pain, while bot…

This study tested whether using virtual reality (VR) goggles could help patients feel less stressed and experience less pain during a fine needle biopsy of the thyroid gland. It involved 52 adults with hyperthyroidism who were undergoing this diagnostic procedure. Researchers mea…

This study tested whether using virtual reality (VR) headsets could help patients feel better during a heart artery scan called coronary angiography. Researchers gave 64 patients calming VR experiences to see if it reduced their anxiety, pain, and stress during the procedure. The…

This study tested whether watching nature videos through virtual reality headsets could help patients feel less pain and anxiety during coronary angiography, a common heart test. Researchers divided 90 adults having this procedure into two groups: one watched VR videos during the…

This study tested whether watching educational videos through virtual reality glasses helps patients care for themselves after weight-loss surgery. Researchers worked with 60 patients, giving half of them a 15-20 minute VR training session before leaving the hospital. They then f…

This study tested whether a 12-week virtual reality exercise program done at home could help children with cystic fibrosis walk farther and feel stronger. Researchers compared kids using fun VR group games to kids doing standard online exercises. The goal was to see if the engagi…

This study tested whether using virtual reality (VR) to show patients what to expect could reduce their anxiety before a specific heart valve repair procedure. 75 adults scheduled for the procedure were given either standard information or standard info plus a VR experience. Rese…

This study tested whether wearing virtual reality (VR) glasses during wisdom tooth surgery could help reduce patients' anxiety and pain. It involved 50 adults who were already nervous about dental work. Researchers compared anxiety levels, heart rate, and blood pressure between p…

This study tested whether adding virtual reality (VR) video games to standard occupational therapy could help improve thinking skills in children with ADHD. Fourteen children, aged 7 to 12, were randomly assigned to receive either therapy alone or therapy plus weekly VR gaming se…

This Stanford University study tested whether using a virtual reality headset could help reduce anxiety in parents while their child was undergoing medical procedures. Nearly 500 parents participated, with some trying VR distraction and others receiving standard care without tech…

This study tested whether playing games in virtual reality (VR) could help people with frozen shoulder feel better. Researchers compared VR exercises to standard stretching exercises to see which was better at reducing pain and improving arm movement and quality of life. A small …

This study tested whether using virtual reality (VR) is a practical and acceptable way to help teenagers with long-lasting muscle and bone pain. Researchers wanted to see if combining VR with standard physical therapy could help teens move better and feel less afraid of pain. The…

This study tested whether using virtual reality (VR) glasses could help patients feel less pain and anxiety during a procedure to open blocked leg arteries, called peripheral angioplasty. Patients were randomly assigned to either use VR distraction or receive standard care during…

This study tested whether watching relaxing nature videos through virtual reality (VR) glasses during a painful injection procedure could help patients. Researchers compared 84 patients receiving trigger point injections—some used VR headsets for 10 minutes during the procedure, …

This study tested whether a relaxing distraction could make a common medical procedure more comfortable. Researchers had 60 male patients undergoing a cystoscopy (a bladder exam) either use virtual reality goggles showing nature videos with calming binaural beats or receive stand…

This study tested whether using a Kinect virtual reality system for aerobic exercise could improve physical fitness and quality of life for older adults showing early signs of frailty. Researchers compared 64 community-dwelling adults over 60 who either used the VR exercise progr…

This study tested whether watching calming nature scenes could help reduce stress for nursing students before a high-pressure clinical skills exam. Researchers compared the effects of an immersive virtual reality nature experience to watching a regular nature video on a screen. T…

This study used virtual reality to safely trigger freezing episodes in people with Parkinson's disease who have deep brain stimulators. While participants walked through VR environments, researchers recorded their brain signals to understand what happens in the brain during freez…

This Yale University study investigated whether a specific virtual reality program could create experiences similar to taking psychedelic drugs. Researchers enrolled 10 healthy volunteers to compare the virtual reality experience to the effects of standard psychedelic doses. The …

This study looked at whether people's cultural backgrounds affect how they learn and perform tasks in virtual reality. Researchers observed 43 healthy university students as they completed cognitive tests, motor skill assessments, and played a VR rhythm game over four days. The s…

This study tested whether a new virtual training program could help medical students learn neurosurgery skills when their in-person hospital rotations were disrupted. Researchers compared a program combining virtual reality simulations with live-streamed surgeries against traditi…

This study aimed to find out if virtual reality (VR) or low-reality simulation is more effective for training midwifery students in newborn resuscitation. It involved 80 fourth-year midwifery students who were split into two groups to receive different types of simulation trainin…

This study tested whether using virtual reality (VR) headsets to teach about dementia is more effective than standard education for older adults with mild memory concerns. Researchers in Taiwan randomly assigned 139 participants to either try a VR education program or receive reg…

This study tested whether learning CPR through a virtual reality game is better than traditional training for improving nurses' knowledge. Sixty emergency and intensive care nurses were split into two groups: one practiced CPR in VR, while the other used standard methods. Researc…

This study tested whether learning physical therapy skills through immersive virtual reality (VR) is better than traditional classroom teaching. Twenty physiotherapy students were split into two groups: one learned using VR headsets, the other through standard lectures and demons…

This study tested whether using virtual reality (VR) could help people who have a hard time picturing movements in their mind get more benefit from mental practice. Thirty-two healthy young men did a 4-week leg strengthening program. Some used VR headsets during mental practice, …

This study tested whether virtual reality (VR) training helps nursing students learn how to give injections better than traditional classroom teaching. Researchers compared 70 first-year nursing students who either used VR goggles to watch training videos or received standard ins…

This study tested whether training with virtual reality (VR) gloves could help intensive care nurses better perform a procedure called aspiration, which involves clearing a patient's airway. Sixty nurses were split into two groups: one practiced with VR gloves, and the other used…