The following is a summary of “Healthcare Interventions for Children Using Nonimmersive Virtual Reality: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review,” published in the March 2024 issue of Pediatrics by Yun et al.

Non immersive virtual reality (NIVR), characterized by computer-generated virtual reality experiences where users are not fully immersed, has emerged as a promising tool in pediatric healthcare. Recognizing its growing utilization in this context, this study endeavors to comprehensively examine the effects of NIVR-based interventions for children, encompassing both healthy populations and those afflicted with chronic conditions or disabilities.

Conducted as a mixed methods systematic review, this study undertook a thorough examination of relevant literature up to December 2023. Inclusion criteria encompassed samples comprising healthy children as well as those with chronic conditions or disabilities, with a specific focus on outcomes related to self-management or social skills, alongside the NIVR interventions employed. Employing a convergent-integrated design, the study synthesized findings to offer a comprehensive understanding of the effects of NIVR-based interventions on pediatric populations.

The review encapsulated findings from 22 studies, with a predominant focus on children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, constituting 15 of the included studies. Notably, the utilization of NIVR demonstrated promising efficacy in enhancing social skills among children. Specifically, engagement in virtual communities alongside peers sharing similar conditions was identified as instrumental in fostering social support networks and facilitating identity exploration among pediatric populations.

While the findings underscore the potential of NIVR-based interventions in augmenting social skills among children, further exploration is warranted to elucidate their impact on broader domains such as self-management in pediatric populations with diverse conditions. As such, continued research in this realm holds promise for advancing pediatric healthcare interventions and fostering improved outcomes for children across a spectrum of healthcare needs.

Source: sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891524524000257