Virtual reality (VR), is the ability to interact with a physical object or an environment digitally reproduced that simulates the real-world experience. VR is typically used in healthcare settings to improve movement in rehabilitation patients or to provide some distraction and relaxation during medical procedures. However, VR is still in its initial stages of use and uptake in the practice of medicine. This article provides an overview of the barriers and facilitators for the implementation of VR in healthcare settings.
The majority of the barriers identified in this study were related to the adopter system as well as the organization categories of the NASSS framework, especially the need of healthcare professionals to be educated and trained on VR, the lack of research and evidence about the value of VR in the context of treatment and the perceived low self-efficacy and confidence to apply and utilize VR during patient treatment. Several studies recommended the utilization of behavioral change techniques like education and training or intervision groups to support healthcare professionals in their decision-making process in relation to VR use.
Facilitators were less frequently identified, such as the young patient’s age, which could be more open to new technologies and feel more comfortable with it or the fact that VR could create an immersive and interactive learning environment that stimulates the senses as well as fostering deeper understanding of complex scientific concepts. VR’s ability to replicate real-world environments, such as the surface or structure of atoms, is a powerful educational tool that lets students explore and test abstract and complex concepts.