Extended reality and healthcare practitioner well-being: scoping review

Background
Extended reality may offer a convenient and effective method
of increasing well-being within the wider healthcare workforce
and particularly for those working in the mental health
sector who are subject to high levels of stress because of
increased workload, high levels of staff turnover and limited
resources.
Aims
This scoping review aims to identify and assimilate relevant
literature pertaining to the use of extended reality to improve
healthcare practitioners’ well-being.
Method
Databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane and PubMed) and grey
literature were searched for relevant articles using established
methodology and reported as per the Preferred Reporting Items
for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) extension
for scoping reviews.
Results
A total of 280 articles were yielded by the search strategy, with
13 relevant articles selected by two independent reviewers in a
blinded process. Studies demonstrated a heterogenous pool of
outcome measurement modalities, intervention modalities and
duration and frequency of the interventions. Of all the studies,
85% note a positive impact on healthcare practitioner well-being
but studies have limited comparability because of heterogeneity.
Interventions were engaging but the practicality of implementing
such technologies into a finance- and time-limited healthcare
environment will be a challenge.
Conclusions
Whilst extended reality is a promising well-being intervention,
there is a paucity of literature relating to its effect on mental
health practitioners’ well-being, and further studies in this area
are required.