Exploring How, for Whom and in Which Contexts Extended Reality Training 'Works' in Upskilling Healthcare Workers: A Realist Review

Extended reality (XR), including virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) may overcome barriers to training healthcare workers, such as resource constraints. However, the effectiveness of XR training is disputed and not well understood. Our realist review explores how, for whom and in what contexts AR and VR training 'works' in upskilling healthcare workers. Eighty papers informed our program theory, while 46 empirical studies tested/refined it. We conclude that XR triggers perceptions of realism and deep immersion, and enables visualization, interactive learning, enhancement of skills and repeated practice within a safe learning environment, consequently bettering skills, learning/knowledge and learner satisfaction.