Effects of virtual reality exercise on fatigue, pain, and psychological status among cancer patients: a meta-analysis
Year: 2025
Type: review
Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis
Abstract: Background Cancer and its associated therapies can result in pain, fatigue, and high psychological depression with anxiety levels. Therefore, this meta-analysis explored the effects of virtual reality (VR) exercise on fatigue and pain in cancer patients, and the secondary outcomes assessed the levels of depression and anxiety. Methodology Eligible studies were searched for through four databases and then screened. The inclusion criteria are as follows: (1) Participants with cancer; (2) randomised controlled trial and single-arm trials; (3) the intervention group received VR exercise; (4) conducted pre- and post-test, which include fatigue, pain, depression and anxiety. The Cochrane bias risk assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality of the selected study. Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) was selected as the appropriate effect scale index, and Revman 5.4 software was used to analyze the mean difference of the selected article data. (Registration number: CRD420251037421). Results The meta-analysis outcomes implied a greater reduction in fatigue following the virtual reality group (VRG) intervention in comparison to control group (COG) (SMD, 0.77 [0.50, 1.04], p < 0.05, I 2 = 61%). The heterogeneity of these outcomes then indicated that subgroup analyses were necessary. Consequently, these analyses denoted that fatigue was substantially improved in intervention durations below 30 min (SMD, 0.44 [0.08, 0.81], p < 0.05, I 2 = 22%) and above 30 min (SMD, 1.20 [0.78, 1.61], p < 0.05, I 2 = 0%). Significant pain improvement was also observed in VRG than COG (SMD, −0.88 [−1.15, −0.60], p < 0.05, I 2 = 36%). Conclusions This review indicated that VR exercise reduced fatigue, pain, and anxiety in cancer patients. Nevertheless, the effect of VR exercise on relieving depression is not clear, which may be a potentially effective non pharmacological intervention in this population.
Source: PeerJ
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.20196
Authors: Ruihan Wang, Yunwei Wang, Shiming Li, Shuoqi Li
Institutions: Nantong University, Ocean University of China
Language: English
Topic: Cancer survivorship and care
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,395
OpenAlex ID: W4415653428