Painwhat the research examines
Short answer: The library holds 25 references on virtual reality and pain, published between 2014 and 2026. They include 4 systematic reviews or meta-analyses and 6 randomised controlled trials. The research mainly examines pain during procedures.
The evidence in numbers
25References
4Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
6Randomised trials
2014–2026Years
Counted in the RVer study library · languages: English, Spanish. The design of each study was classified by the team from the publication.
What the research examines
- Pain during procedures: needles and cannulas, dental treatment, dressings and examinations, especially in children.
- Acute pain on the ward and after surgery, and chronic pain.
- Distraction as a mechanism: attention that goes to the immersive environment is no longer on the painful stimulus.
- Whether virtual reality reduces the need for sedation or analgesia during the procedure.
What is not yet known
- How long the effect lasts after the session ends.
- How it compares with other forms of distraction, beyond usual care.
- Little research with older people in care homes or with long-standing chronic pain.
- Scales and measurement points differ from study to study, which makes results hard to pool.
The references, by study design
Meta-analyses · 4
- The effect of virtual reality for anxiety and pain in dentistry: A systematic review and meta-analysisH. M. Nezhad · 2024 · Community Dental Health
- Virtual reality in pediatrics, effects on pain and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis updateFloris Q. Tas · 2022 · Pediatric Anesthesia, 32(12): 1292–1304
- The Effects of Virtual Reality on Procedural Pain and Anxiety in Pediatrics: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisRikke Nordgård · 2021 · Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 2: 699383
- Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Virtual Reality in Pediatrics: Effects on Pain and AnxietyRobin Eijlers · 2019 · Anesthesia & Analgesia, 129(5): 1344–1353
Randomised controlled trials · 6
- Effect of Virtual Reality Distraction Method on the Level of Salivary Cortisol in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder During Dental TreatmentLekshmi R. Suresh · 2026 · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 56(5): 1737–1746
- The effect of virtual reality glasses on dental anxiety during scaling and root planing in patients with periodontitis: A randomized controlled clinical trialEzgi Ceylan · 2024 · International Journal of Dental Hygiene
- Distraction With Virtual Reality Goggles in Paediatric Dental Treatment: A Randomised Controlled TrialLior Zaidman · 2023 · International Dental Journal, 73(1): 108–113
- Effect of an Immersive Virtual Reality Intervention on Pain and Anxiety Associated With Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Placement in the Pediatric Setting: A Randomized Clinical TrialJeffrey I. Gold · 2021 · JAMA Network Open, 4(8): e2122569
- Virtual Reality for Pediatric Needle Procedural Pain: Two Randomized Clinical TrialsEvelyn Chan · 2019 · The Journal of Pediatrics, 209: 160–167.e4
- Is Virtual Reality Ready for Prime Time in the Medical Space? A Randomized Control Trial of Pediatric Virtual Reality for Acute Procedural Pain ManagementJeffrey I. Gold · 2018 · Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 43(3): 266–275
Non-randomised clinical studies · 3
- 'Godrevy Project': virtual reality for symptom control and well-being in oncology and palliative care – a non-randomised pre-post interventional trialNiall O. Moon · 2023 · BMJ Oncology
- Can virtual reality reduce pain and anxiety in pediatric emergency care and promote positive response of parents of children? A quasi-experimental studyMarta Ferraz-Torres · 2023 · International Emergency Nursing, 68: 101268
- A Novel Palliative Care Approach Using Virtual Reality for Improving Various Symptoms of Terminal Cancer Patients: A Preliminary Prospective, Multicenter StudyKazuyuki Niki · 2019 · Journal of Palliative Medicine, 22(6): 702–707
Pilot or feasibility studies · 4
- Virtual reality and well-being in older adults: Results from a pilot implementation of virtual reality in long-term careFerzana Chaze · 2022 · Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering, 9: 20556683211072384
- Virtual reality reduces pain in palliative care – A feasibility trialGuenther · 2022 · BMC Palliative Care
- Virtual Reality for Therapeutic Recreation in Dementia Hospice Care: A Feasibility StudyClaire Ferguson · 2020 · American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, 37(10): 809–815
- Virtual Reality Use for Symptom Management in Palliative Care: A Pilot Study to Assess User PerceptionsTracy Johnson · 2020 · Journal of Palliative Medicine, 23(9): 1233–1238
Case reports or series · 1
- Aplicación de la realidad virtual en niños oncológicos hospitalizados sometidos a procedimientos invasivos: un estudio de casosDiego José Sáez-Rodríguez · 2021 · Psicooncología, 18(1): 157–172
Narrative or scoping reviews · 3
- Effects of virtual reality on pain and anxiety in older adults: A scoping reviewCamille Corbel · 2025 · Geriatric Nursing, 63: 619–629
- A Rapid Review of the Role of Virtual Reality in Care Delivery of Palliative Care and HospicePanagiota P. Moutogiannis · 2023 · Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing, 25(6): 300–308
- Virtual Reality as a Clinical Tool for Pain ManagementAli Pourmand · 2018
Essays, editorials or conceptual papers · 1
- Virtual reality for pain and anxiety in young children: It is far from magicGianluca Bertolizio · 2022 · Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica (Editorial)
Books or chapters · 1
- Therapeutic Virtual Reality: Theory, Applications, and Impact on the People’s Health and Well-beingJoão Fernandes Thomaz · 2026 · Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Clinical studies, design not stated · 2
- Virtual Reality For Preoperative Anxiety In Tooth ExtractionZeng Yang · 2025 · International Dental Journal
- Clinical Use of Virtual Reality Distraction System to Reduce Anxiety and Pain in Dental ProceduresMark D. Wiederhold · 2014 · Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking
Glossary terms
Other topics
This page describes what published research on virtual reality examines in this topic. It is not a claim about RVer's performance and does not replace clinical assessment. The Class I medical device registration (EUDAMED, Basic UDI-DI 56006195127RVERTZ, and INFARMED, Portugal, CDM 94571546) covers the RVer base product.