Meta-analysis suggests VR interventions reduce stress and anxiety in healthcare workers

Investigators conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD42024558009) to evaluate virtual reality (VR) interventions targeting stress, anxiety, burnout, or fatigue in healthcare workers. PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, China Wanfang Database, and China Biology Medicine disk were searched from inception to May 21, 2025. The review followed PRISMA guidelines, applied the EPHPP tool for methodological quality, and used RevMan 5.4 for meta-analysis.

From 2,133 records identified, ten studies published between 2021 and 2023 were included, enrolling 493 participants. Three were randomized cross-over trials and seven were one-group pretest-posttest trials. Studies not in English or Chinese, duplicates, and those lacking full texts or required data were excluded.

Pre- versus post-intervention comparisons showed statistically significant reductions in both stress (SMD = -0.64, 95% CI -1.17 to -0.11, p = 0.02) and anxiety (SMD = -0.51, 95% CI -0.76 to -0.27). Results for burnout and fatigue were not reported in the available abstract text. The direction and magnitude of effects are consistent with a potentially meaningful psychological benefit, though the small pooled sample limits precision.

Several caveats temper these findings. Most included studies were single-arm pretest-posttest designs rather than randomized comparisons, the total sample is modest, and the evidence base spans only 2021-2023. Adverse events, dropouts, and long-term tolerability were not reported in the abstract, so the safety profile of VR exposure in this workforce is not characterized.

Clinicians and wellness program leads can view VR as a plausible adjunct for short-term stress and anxiety relief in healthcare workers, but should weight these conclusions against the methodological heterogeneity and absence of safety data before broader deployment.