Innovations in Pediatric Nursing: Emerging Technologies Including Virtual Reality, Telehealth, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Mental Health-A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND

Pediatric nursing is rapidly evolving with the integration of innovative technologies aimed at improving healthcare delivery and outcomes for children.

OBJECTIVES

To map the extent and characteristics of pediatric nursing literature on (1) virtual reality (VR) for procedural care, (2) telehealth models, (3) artificial intelligence (AI)-supported diagnostics, (4) technology-enabled obesity interventions, and (5) digital mental-health tools; and to identify outcomes studied, populations/settings, study designs, and research gaps.

METHODS

A scoping review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines was conducted. Peer-reviewed articles published from 2010 to 2024 were retrieved from PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria were studies involving pediatric populations and addressing one of the specified technologies or interventions.

RESULTS

Twenty-five studies were included. VR was effective in reducing procedural pain and anxiety. Telehealth improved care access, especially in underserved areas. AI-supported early diagnosis of diseases such as congenital heart defects. Nursing interventions for childhood obesity were most effective when multidisciplinary and personalized. Digital tools helped pediatric patients manage mental health conditions associated with chronic illness. However, gaps exist in long-term effectiveness, scalability, and integration.

CONCLUSIONS

Emerging technologies in pediatric nursing offer substantial benefits but require further validation and structured implementation. Future research should focus on standardizing protocols, assessing cost-effectiveness, and addressing equity in access.