SynthesisFrontiers in psychology2026
Effects of virtual reality interventions on anxiety symptoms in women undergoing gynecological examinations and surgeries: a multi-level dose-response meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Frontiers in psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Objective: Using a systematic review and multi-level meta-analysis, this study quantified the effects of virtual reality (VR) interventions on anxiety symptoms among women undergoing gynecological examinations or surgeries. Furthermore, it examined potential sources of effect heterogeneity and the relationship between intervention parameters and therapeutic efficacy, thereby providing an evidence-based reference for the rational application of VR interventions in clinical settings. Methods: This study followed the PRISMA guidelines. We conducted a systematic search of the PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library databases up to January 5, 2026, and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effects of VR interventions on anxiety symptoms among women undergoing gynecological examinations or surgeries. A multi-level random-effects model was used to pool effect sizes, specifically the SMD. We also conducted heterogeneity assessments, publication bias tests, subgroup analyses, meta-regressions, and Bayesian dose-response analyses. Results: Twelve randomized controlled trials published between 2019 and 2025 were included. The meta-analysis showed that the VR intervention significantly reduced anxiety symptoms in women during the intervention period, with a small-to-moderate effect (SMD = -0.47, 95% CI - 0.73 to -0.21, Conclusion: Virtual reality interventions were associated with reduced anxiety symptoms, although substantial heterogeneity may limit the generalisability of the pooled effect. As a non-pharmacological digital intervention, VR may serve as a promising adjunct to routine care, particularly in less invasive gynecological settings. Further multicenter studies with larger samples and standardized designs are needed to verify long-term effects and clarify optimal intervention parameters. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/.
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Registered trials
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