VIRTUAL REALITY FOR THE PREVENTION AND REDUCTION OF DELIRIUM IN CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS: A SCOPING REVIEW

Refonda Rias Anggiri; Baharudin Priwintoko; Siwi Hastuti

doi:10.53345/bimiki.v13i2.575

Authors

Refonda Rias Anggiri School of Nursing, STIKES Mamba’ul ‘Ulum Surakarta, Surakarta, Indonesia
Baharudin Priwintoko Department of Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Akademi Inovasi Indonesia, Salatiga, Indonesia
Siwi Hastuti Pharmacy Study Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Duta Bangsa Surakarta, Surakarta, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53345/bimiki.v13i2.575

Keywords:

Critically Ill Patients, Delirium, Intensive Care Unit, Virtual Reality

Abstract

Background: Delirium is a common complication among critically ill patients in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), associated with higher mortality, longer ICU stay, and long-term cognitive decline. Pharmacological management remains limited, underscoring the need for innovative non-pharmacological strategies. Virtual Reality (VR) has emerged as a promising intervention, offering immersive sensory stimulation, relaxation, and family engagement that may help prevent delirium.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted across databases. PubMed, Scopus, and ProQuest databases were searched in July 2024 using terms related to “virtual reality,” “intensive care,” and “delirium.” Eligible studies included adult ICU patients and were published between 2019 and 2024, and reported outcomes on delirium incidence, duration, severity, or related factors. Review articles and inaccessible full texts were excluded.

Results: Five studies met the inclusion criteria. Two were pilot trials, one was a pilot randomized controlled trial, and two were prospective cohort studies. VR interventions included immersive meditation, neurocognitive stimulation, and family visitation systems. Across studies, VR was found to be safe, feasible, and well accepted by patients. Studies demonstrated a significant reduction in delirium incidence with VR family visits. At the same time, smaller trials showed improvements in anxiety, cognitive engagement, and patient satisfaction, but no consistent reductions in delirium outcomes.

Conclusion: VR appears to be a safe and innovative adjunct for critically ill patients, with potential benefits in patient experience and anxiety reduction. Future research requires larger multicenter randomized trials with standardized protocols.