Journal of Clinical Medicine
Immersive Virtual Reality for Pain and Anxiety Reduction During Transrectal Ultrasound-Guided Prostate Biopsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
By Khaled Aljenfawi, Malek Hasan, Ebraheem Albazee and 1 others.
Abstract
Background
Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided prostate biopsy is a distressing procedure associated with significant pain and anxiety, even with routine local anesthesia. Immersive virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological distraction strategy, aiming to modulate pain perception via sensory overload and attentional shift.
Methods
A comprehensive search of five databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, CENTRAL, Scopus, and Embase, was conducted up to April 2026. RCTs comparing intra-procedural immersive VR to standard care were included. Primary outcomes were biopsy-related pain and anxiety. Secondary outcomes included patient satisfaction and procedure-related adverse events. Standardized mean differences (SMD) were pooled using a random-effects model.