Daphne A. U. Chilaka

Immersive virtual environments (IVEs) are advanced virtual reality (VR) environments that provide fully interactive, multisensory experiences, distinguishing themselves from traditional 3D models through heightened realism and engagement (Baritome, 2023). Their versatility makes them a transformative tool in healthcare research, addressing key challenges such as the ethical complexities of working with vulnerable populations, maintaining confidentiality and managing high implementation costs (Goncalves et al., 2012). While VR has historically been employed as a distraction tool to alleviate pain and anxiety in medical settings (Richey et al., 2022), its standard applications often lack the immersive depth needed to replicate real-world conditions accurately (Rahim et al., 2024). IVEs, by contrast, immerse participants in lifelike, sensory-rich environments through a fusion of visual, auditory and tactile stimuli, enabling researchers to collect nuanced, real-time data (Smith, 2015; Joseph et al., 2020). This heightened level of realism makes IVEs particularly well suited for investigating the complex interplay between environmental design and patient wellbeing. By simulating real-world healthcare settings, IVEs also allow researchers to safely test interventions, optimise designs and explore patient-centric solutions in a controlled and cost-effective manner. Despite their potential, IVEs remain underutilised in healthcare design research (Joseph et al., 2020). This research explores the integration of IVEs as a methodology in healthcare design research. A systematic literature review was conducted using Google Scholar and CINAHL Complete, focusing on empirical studies published since 2012 that employed IVEs in the context of healthcare and architectural design. Analysis identified several key applications for IVEs in healthcare settings, including: 1. navigation and spatial cognition research; 2. studying the relationship between the built environment and human behaviour; 3. design evaluations (pre-occupancy and post-occupancy); 4. supporting decision making in space planning, layout testing and perception studies; 5. testing environmental variables such as colour preferences, acoustics, lighting and window views. By integrating IVE technology into the design process, researchers can adopt a scalable, patient-centred approach to evaluating and implementing design solutions in healthcare environments. This methodology bridges art, technology and architectural design, enabling more rigorous, empathetic and efficient explorations of healthcare spaces. IVEs represent a transformative opportunity to innovate healthcare design research, offering new pathways for enhancing patient outcomes and environmental efficacy.