Application of virtual reality in nursing communication education: A systematic review

Background: Communication skills are very important for nursing students. As a developing teaching technology, virtual reality is used in nursing communication education. However, the teaching effect and the effective teaching elements are not clear. Objective: This systematic review was designed to summarize the characteristics of interventions and teaching design of nursing communication education based on virtual reality and to extract the common positive features to provide a reference for further nursing communication education. Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, we systematically searched eight databases in December 2021, and an updated search was performed in June 2023. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used for study appraisal. Results: A total of thirteen studies were included in the systematic review. Although differences were observed in the designs, evaluations and communication results of these studies, we extracted some elements that can be used to promote positive communication results, such as a combination of an intervention design based on theory with communication strategies, positive feedback and reporting. Conclusions: Virtual reality-based education shows mixed teaching effect in improving nursing students' communication cognition and skills. Further studies are necessary to verify the practical influence of intervention design combined with teaching methods on improving nursing students' communication and clinical communication coping ability.