PhD Scientific Days 2026

Pathological and Oncological Sciences 2.

The Effect of Virtual Reality on Anxiety and Depression in Individuals Facing Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Előadó neve

Aljomaa, Seba, PhD

Neptune code

PK5LJM

Előadó munkahelye

Center for Translational Medicine

Előadó telefonszáma

06300104468

Előadó e-mail címe

aljomaa.seba@phd.semmelweis.hu

Az előadás címe

The Effect of Virtual Reality on Anxiety and Depression in Individuals Facing Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Szerző(k) neve és munkahelye

Seba Aljomaa¹, Miklos Garami¹, Mark Hernádfői¹

1: Center for Translational Medicine

Bemutatás módja

Szóbeli

Szekció

Pathological and Oncological Sciences 2.

Language of the presentation

English

Preferred session

Pathological and Oncological Sciences

Összefoglaló szövege

Introduction
Depressive (23.4%) and anxious (19.1–19.9%) symptomatology are highly prevalent among cancer patients, contributing to diminished quality of life and treatment adherence. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising active distraction technique that allows patients to momentarily escape stressful treatment environments, such as chemotherapy, and reduce perceived distress.
Aims
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of VR interventions on anxiety and depression in patients undergoing cancer treatment.
Methods
Following the PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for peer-reviewed studies investigating VR-based interventions in cancer care. Eligible studies compared VR with standard care and assessed outcomes related to anxiety and/or depression. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for pooled effect estimates.
Results
Fourteen studies met inclusion criteria. Pooled analyses demonstrated that VR use was associated with reduced anxiety scores during chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and painful procedures; however, these reductions were not statistically significant compared to controls (SMD = −3.69, 95% CI: −8.66 to 1.28; SMD = −0.40, 95% CI: −1.46 to 0.66; and SMD = −4.67, 95% CI: −21.85 to 12.50, respectively). For depression, VR during chemotherapy showed a non-significant trend toward improvement (SMD = −2.38, 95% CI: −9.32 to 4.56). Heterogeneity across studies was high, reflecting variation in intervention type, duration, and patient populations.
Conclusion
The observed trends are promising, suggesting that VR may support psychological well-being in patients receiving cancer treatment by alleviating anxiety and depressive symptoms. Future large-scale, randomized controlled trials using standardized intervention protocols and outcome measures are warranted to clarify VR’s therapeutic potential. Integration of VR into personalized digital care pathways could enhance supportive oncology practices and improve patient experience globally.
Funding
This study was conducted with financial support from the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Program.

University

Semmelweis University

Supervisor

Dr. Miklos Garami

Publication of my abstract

I do not give consent to the publication of my abstract on the website of the congress.

phd.section.field

in doctoral studies after complex exam (PhD)

Kind

Szabad

Status

elfogadva

Accepted presentation method

szóbeli

Előadás fájl jóváhagyás

nem hagyta jóvá

Előadó

8109

Start

12:15

End

12:25