ABSTRACT

Objective: This study aimed to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR)-based occupational therapy interventions for patients with stroke and explore specific application methods to provide evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the National Digital Science Library (NDSL), RISS, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science databases to identify articles published between January 2014 and September 2024. The search strategy included keywords such as “Virtual Reality” AND (“Stroke” OR “Cerebrovascular Disorders” OR “Cerebrovascular Accident” OR “Brain Vascular Accident” OR “Cerebrovascular Stroke”) AND (“Occupational therapy” OR “Occupational therapist”), along with their Korean equivalents, including “뇌졸중,” “가상현실,” and “작업치료.” Results: Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria, and most involved patients with chronic stroke. The interventions were typically delivered in 30-min sessions over 6–8 weeks. Physical function assessment tools were predominantly employed. Of the included studies, 10 demonstrated statistically significant improvements in upper limb function, quality of life, and activities of daily living. Conclusion: VR-based occupational therapy interventions significantly enhanced functional recovery in stroke patients. This study offers evidence-based insights into intervention design and the application of assessment tools, providing valuable guidance for occupational therapists in developing and implementing VR-based rehabilitation programs.