Virtual Reality Technology in Otolaryngology Patient Care Management: A Narrative Review of Current Evidence and Future Prospects.

Virtual reality (VR), defined as an immersive, interactive, computer-generated simulation delivered via head-mounted displays that create a sense of presence in a virtual environment, holds promise for otolaryngology nursing and is increasingly used in clinical practice worldwide. This narrative review covers both patient-facing VR applications (preoperative education, pain and anxiety relief, vestibular rehabilitation, swallowing assessment and therapy, hearing rehabilitation, and tinnitus management) and nurse-facing VR applications (professional training and skills development). By synthesizing recent clinical studies and technological advances, this review highlights the potential for VR to enhance the patient care experience, improve nursing quality and efficiency, and address common challenges such as severe surgical anxiety and poor adherence to rehabilitation; supporting evidence varies across applications. Vestibular rehabilitation is supported by strong evidence from randomized controlled trials, whereas swallowing therapy and tinnitus management are primarily supported by preliminary exploratory studies. We discuss technical, economic, and clinical limitations hindering implementation of VR, then present practical recommendations for future research and clinical practice. This review also highlights recent advances, including the integration of VR with artificial intelligence, wearable biosensors, and telerehabilitation platforms, to facilitate personalized remote otolaryngology nursing. Despite the potential for VR to improve rehabilitation outcomes and treatment adherence, current evidence remains heterogeneous due to variations in study designs and outcome measures. Rigorous, standardized, large-scale studies are urgently needed to strengthen the evidence base and support the reliable, standardized implementation of VR in otolaryngology nursing. This review summarizes the current evidence and future prospects of VR in otolaryngology patient care management.