REVIEW article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Aging and Public Health
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1566813
This article is part of the Research TopicAssistive Technologies in Aging and DisabilityView all 9 articles
Virtual Reality-based Rehabilitation experience of stroke survivors: A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Studies
Provisionally accepted
- 1University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
- 2Naval Medical University, Shanghai, Shanghai, China
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To examine and synthesise qualitative data regarding the experiences of stroke survivors who underwent rehabilitation using virtual reality (VR).We critically appraised the included study using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Assessment Checklist for Qualitative Research. Relevant qualitative studies were searched in PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and China Biomedical Literature Database from inception to December 2024. Two researchers independently extracted and analysed the data and integrated the results using a pooled meta-aggregation approach.Results: Sixteen studies (n=145 stroke survivors) were included. A total of 5 meta-themes, 12 categories, and 38 research results were extracted. The meta-themes included perceived benefits, facilitating factors of using VR, and hindering factors of using VR, changes in the physical and mental health following VR rehabilitation, and suggestions and expectations for VR rehabilitation.Stroke survivors perceived the benefits and barriers of using VR-based rehabilitation (VRBR); therefore, it is a complex perceptual change for them. They require emotional support from family and peers, professional support from healthcare professionals, and financial support from the government. Moreover, rehabilitation motivation is an important factor that influences utilisation. Updating VRBR content and functionality is essential to improve user experience.Registration: PROSPERO CRD42024504700.
Keywords: Stroke, virtual reality, Rehabilitation, experience, meta-synthesis
Received: 25 Jan 2025; Accepted: 23 Jun 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Cai, Liu, Zhou and Song. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Lanshu Zhou, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, Shanghai, China
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