Can virtual reality interventions help reduce stress and anxiety for healthcare workers?

Healthcare workers face high levels of stress and anxiety, and virtual reality (VR) is being studied as a tool to help. VR can provide immersive, calming experiences or distraction during stressful procedures. A 2025 meta-analysis of 10 studies found that VR interventions significantly reduced stress and anxiety in healthcare workers, with moderate to large effects ². This suggests VR may be a useful, accessible option for managing workplace stress.

What the research says

A 2025 meta-analysis pooled data from 10 studies with 493 healthcare workers and found that VR interventions led to statistically significant reductions in both stress and anxiety scores ². The effect size was moderate to large (SMD = -0.64), meaning the improvement was meaningful. The studies included randomized cross-over trials and one-group pretest-posttest designs, published between 2021 and 2023 ².

Separate randomized trials in other patient groups also support VR's anxiety-reducing effects. For example, a 2023 trial of adults undergoing elective surgery found that an 8-minute immersive VR tour of the operating theater significantly reduced preoperative anxiety compared to standard care ⁹. Similarly, a 2023 trial in pediatric patients undergoing venipuncture showed that VR distraction reduced pain, anxiety, and stress, as measured by heart rate and salivary cortisol ¹⁰. Another 2024 trial in a pediatric oncology clinic found that VR significantly reduced peri-interventional pain, anxiety, and distress during port and vein punctures ¹¹.

While these studies were not in healthcare workers, they demonstrate that VR can effectively reduce anxiety and stress in medical settings. The meta-analysis directly focused on healthcare workers and found consistent benefits ². However, the evidence is still emerging, with most studies being small and short-term.

What to ask your doctor

• Could a VR relaxation program be a helpful addition to my stress management routine?
• Are there any VR-based interventions available through my workplace or employee assistance program?
• How do VR interventions compare with other stress reduction options like mindfulness or breathwork?
• Are there any potential side effects of VR, such as motion sickness or eye strain, that I should be aware of?
• How often and for how long would I need to use VR to see benefits for stress and anxiety?