INTEGRATING VR/AR INTO ROBOTIC SURGERY EDUCATION: A MODEL TO ENHANCE UPTAKE IN SAUDI HOSPITALS

Abstract

There has been a sustained effort to highlight the potential of immersive technologies, such as XR, VR, and AR, to enhance surgical precision and improve accessibility in health and biotechnology from 2020 to 2025. In accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, 276 documents were retrieved from Web of Science (WoS), and 50 research articles were ultimately included in the study. Despite hard work in a new era of healthcare with even greater potential, further research is required to elucidate the future challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Adequate health literacy is a significant challenge because it influences relationships between patients and doctors, access, and self-management, all of which are essential for improved health outcomes. The study also identifies recent changes in medical education in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. It then performs a systematic review of current healthcare and training applications of virtual, augmented, and extended reality targeted at improving knowledge, skills, and user engagement. Furthermore, it analyzes how 6 G technologies can support low-latency m-health and VR/AR services and discusses the use of wearables and exoskeletons to minimize ergonomic risks. This work synthesizes the benefits and limitations of immersive technologies, proposes an integrative framework that links 6G, XR, and wearables for safe, practical training and care, and outlines future research directions, particularly for resource-poor settings.