Table 2 Characteristics of the 18 studies
Auther, Year, References | Country | Study design | Platform* | Aim of the study | Type of VR application | Sample size | Sample age | Intervention duration | Stage of treatment | Type of VR technology | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Schneider et al. [33] | USA | Cross-over | Computer-based with HMD | Investigation of the effect of VR on reducing chemotherapy-related symptom distress levels | Symptom distress levels reduction | N = 16 | Mean ± SD: 57.7 ± 6.8 | Once, mean length of time 78 min for each patient | During chemotherapy | Immersive | VR can decrease situational anxiety related to chemotherapy treatment |
Schneider et al. [34] | USA | Cross-over | Computer-based with HMD | Investigation of the effect of VR on reducing chemotherapy-related symptom distress levels | Symptom distress levels reduction | N = 20 | Mean ± SD: 42.6 ± 7.9 | Once, mean length of time 67 min for each patient | During chemotherapy | Immersive | The distraction intervention decreased symptom distress and was well received |
Schneider et al. [35] | USA | Cross-over | Computer-based with HMD | Investigation of the effect of VR on reducing chemotherapy-related symptom distress levels | Symptom distress levels reduction | N = 123 | Mean ± SD: 53.97 ± 10.89 | Once, average chemotherapy treatment lasted 58 min | During chemotherapy | Immersive | VR made the treatment seem shorter than treatments without distraction intervention |
Schneider et al. [36] | USA | Cross-over | Computer-based with HMD | Exploration of the influence of age, gender, state anxiety, fatigue, and diagnosis on time perception with a VR distraction and predict the effects of these variables on the difference between the two groups | Time perception reduction | N = 137 | Mean ± SD: 52.4 ± 10.8 | Once | During chemotherapy | Immersive | Women with breast cancer are more likely to experience altered time perception during VR |
Camargo et al. [29] | Brazil | Before- after | Game-based with TV screen | Investigation the applicability of VR for the recovery and rehabilitation | Rehabilitation | N = 2 | Not mentioned | 30 min | After surgery | Non-Immersive | VR is a valuable tool for treating secondary pain in breast cancer |
House et al. [30] | USA | Before- after | Game-based with TV screen | Exploration the feasibility of VR for coping with post-surgical chronic pain and associated disability in patients | Rehabilitation | N = 6 | Mean ± SD: 57.8 ± 20.4 | 20–50 min per session and two times a week for 8 weeks | After surgery | Non-Immersive | The findings indicate improved cognition, shoulder range, strength, function, and reduced depression |
Chirico et al. [39] | Italy | RCT | Computer-based with HMD | Evaluation the effect of VR on the time perception | Time perception reduction | N = 47 | Not mentioned | 20 min | During chemotherapy | Immersive | Patients treated with VR underestimate the time they spend with the equipment |
Bani Mohammad et al. [20] | Jordan | RCT | Computer-based without HMD | Assessment the effectiveness of VR in reducing pain and anxiety | Pain and anxiety reduction | N = 80 | Mean ± SD: 51.99 ± 10.34 | once | Patients during the care process | Non-immersive | VR is an effective distraction intervention for managing pain and anxiety among breast cancer patients |
Jimenez et al. [42] | Australia | Quasi-experimental | Computer-based without HMD | Investigation the impact of Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training on patients’ RT knowledge and anxiety | Knowledge and positive experience enhancement | N = 37 | Range: 35–74 | “8 months 1st of April 2015 and 27th of November 2015” | During radiation therapy | Non-Immersive | This examination reports the significance of education programs in enhancing radiation therapy knowledge and perhaps decreasing patient anxiety |
Chirico et al. [7] | Italy | RCT | Computer-based without HMD | Assessment of the efficacy of VR in relieving chemotherapy‐related anxiety and negative mood states | Anxiety reduction and mood states improvement | N = 94 | Mean ± SD: 55.18 ± 5.7 | 45–90 min | During chemotherapy | Non-Immersive | VR and MT are helpful interventions for improving mood states and relieving anxiety, depression, and fatigue during chemotherapy |
Pizzoli et al. [31] | Italy | Before- after | Mobile-based with HMD | Comparison of relaxation techniques in VR | Relaxation | N = 16 | Mean ± SD: 47.7 ± 7.24 | 7 min | Patients during the care process | Immersive | Initial outcomes indicate that using body-focused exercises for patients might cause major efficacy compared to breathing exercises that have been broadly utilized until now in relaxing VR |
Feyzioğlu et al. [38] | Turkey | RCT | Game-based with Xbox Kinect | Investigation the effects of VR on pain, ROM, muscle strength, functionality, and fear of movement | Rehabilitation | N = 40 | Mean ± SD: 50.84 ± 8.53 | "11 months Both groups received the treatment for 45 min per session and two times a week for 6 weeks." | After surgery | Non-Immersive | VR training using Xbox Kinect™ might be as effective as standard physiotherapy in the management of upper limb dysfunctions |
Durosini et al. [40] | Italy | Cross-sectional | Not mentioned | Exploration BC survivors’ attitudes towards internet-based psychotherapy | Attitudes investigation | N = 48 | Mean ± SD: 50.23 ± 7.06 | Not mentioned | Patients with history of Breast cancer | Not Mentioned | BC survivors tend to perceive Videoconferencing and VR as the most useful, effective, reassuring, and reliable modalities |
Piejko et al. [32] | Poland | Before- after | Computer-based without HMD | Understanding the impact of VR to improve postural control | Rehabilitation | N = 46 | Mean ± SD: 51.67 ± 6.62 | 6 days a week (from Monday to Saturday), for 45 min a day | After surgery | Non-immersive | Treatment did not affect static postural control but contributed to the improvement of dynamic postural control |
Atef et al. [43] | Egypt | Quasi-randomized clinical trial | Game-based with TV screen | Identifying and comparing the therapeutic advantages of VR-based exercises for postmastectomy lymphedema | Lymphedema reduction and rehabilitation | N = 30 | Mean ± SD: 54.07 ± 8.28 and 53.07 ± 7.24 years for the VR and PNF groups | 2 sessions per week for 4 weeks [8 sessions] | After surgery | Non-immersive | VR is beneficial in reducing postmastectomy lymphedema |
Zhou et al. [41] | China | Experimental design | Computer-based with HMD | Developing a VR upper limb rehabilitation system for patients and explore its usability | Rehabilitation | N = 15 | Mean ± SD: 54.73 ± 7.78 | 15 days | After surgery | Immersive | VR rehabilitation system is feasible and easy to learn |
Buche et al. [19] | France | Before- after | Game-based with HMD | Examination the benefits of VR using two immersion methods and comparing them with each other | Rehabilitation | N = 52 | Mean ± SD: 56.02 ± 10.62 | "10 months Each session lasted an average of 30 min." | After surgery | Immersive | The therapeutic benefits of VR are mainly associated with its distractive power |
Ashley Verzwyvelt et al. [37] | USA | Cross-over | Computer-based with HMD | Investigation the effects of biophilic green therapy or VR environment on decreasing pain and distress | Pain and distress reduction | N = 33 | Mean ± SD: 59.03 ± 13.2 | Not mentioned | During chemotherapy | Immersive | The engagement of nature eased some of the burden experienced during treatment and encouraged patients to further explore its benefits |