The role of Metaverse in Healthcare: A Structure Literature Review

Abstract: Background/Introduction: The Metaverse, a virtual shared space created by the convergence of virtual reality, augmented reality, and the internet, has garnered significant attention across various industries. One such sector poised for transformation is healthcare, where Metaverse technologies hold promise for revolutionizing patient care, medical education, and therapeutic interventions. This article explores the implications of Metaverse integration in healthcare through a comprehensive literature analysis. Methods: A systematic literature review (SLR) combined with bibliometric analysis was conducted to assess the current state of research on Metaverse in healthcare. The methodology involved defining research questions, developing a research protocol, determining search strategies, and analyzing data using statistical software. Results: The analysis identified 89 peer-reviewed articles published between 2021 and 2023, highlighting the rapid growth of research in this area. Key findings include identifying prominent authors, journals, and keywords, exploring Metaverse applications in healthcare, and delineating research trends such as VR therapy for mental health, telemedicine, and machine learning in medical imaging. Conclusion: The study underscores the transformative potential of Metaverse technologies in healthcare, offering opportunities to enhance patient outcomes, improve medical education, and streamline healthcare delivery. Despite the promising applications, the study acknowledges limitations and calls for further research to address ethical considerations, data governance issues, and workforce competencies in this evolving landscape.