Virtual Reality for Pain and Anxiety Management During Medical Procedures: A Systematic Review with Complementary Bibliometric Analysis

Virtual Reality (VR) has emerged as a non-pharmacological intervention for managing pain and anxiety during medical procedures. This study presents a systematic review with complementary bibliometric analysis of the scientific literature on the clinical effectiveness of VR in healthcare settings. A structured search was conducted across five databases (Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, PubMed, EMBASE, and MEDLINE), identifying 627 records, of which 26 studies met the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted on study design, population, type of intervention, and clinical outcomes related to pain and anxiety. Most included studies reported reductions in perceived pain and/or anxiety when VR was used as an adjunctive intervention, particularly in pediatric and procedural contexts. However, findings were heterogeneous in terms of study design, VR modalities, and outcome measures, limiting quantitative synthesis. The bibliometric analysis indicates growing research interest, with a strong focus on clinical outcomes, while evidence related to implementation and healthcare system integration remains limited. Overall, VR appears to be a promising complementary tool for improving patient experience during medical procedures. However, further high-quality studies with standardized methodologies are needed to establish its effectiveness and facilitate future meta-analyses.