Effects of virtual reality for psychological health of ICU patients: a study protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION: Virtual reality (VR) has been shown to have a certain influence on the psychological health of intensive care unit (ICU) patients. However, its specific effects—particularly on psychological health problems, such as psychological well-being, quality of life (QOL) and patient satisfaction—remain unclear. METHOD AND ANALYSIS: This study follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols guidelines. Electronic data search is carried out on PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, EBSCO, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang, VIP and Chinese Biology Medicine Database. The inclusion criteria follow the PICO principle, wherein ICU patients who have been hospitalised for 24 hours or more are included. Studies using VR-based interventions to improve the psychological health of ICU patients, compared with waitlist controls or traditional therapy groups; outcome assessments containing psychological well-being, QOL and patient satisfaction; and those designed as randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental research are included. Search time is from inception of each database to July 2023. No language restriction is considered. Studies for inclusion are screened by two independent reviewers for data extraction. Any dispute is resolved through discussion. Unresolved disputes are decided on by consulting a third author. For the risk of bias assessment in RCTs and non-RCTs, the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomised trials and risk of bias in non-randomised studies of interventions tool are used, respectively. For meta-analysis, RevMan V.5.3 is used. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This protocol study does not include clinical research and thus does not require ethical approval. Research findings will be released in a peer-reviewed journal. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42023400428.