Published online Sep 20, 2025. doi: 10.5662/wjm.v15.i3.100459
Revised: January 13, 2025
Accepted: January 23, 2025
Published online: September 20, 2025
Processing time: 201 Days and 13.8 Hours
Systematic review focuses on the visual patient avatar (VPA) technology, a tool designed to enhance situational awareness in anesthesia by transforming tra
To explore how VPA can improve perceptual performance, reduce cognitive load, and increase user acceptance, potentially leading to better patient outcomes.
The review is based on 14 studies conducted between 2018 and 2023 in five different hospitals across Europe.
These studies demonstrate that VPA allows clinicians to perceive and recall vital signs more efficiently than conventional monitoring methods. The technology’s intuitive design helps reduce cognitive workload, indicating less mental effort required for patient monitoring. Users’ feedback on VPA was generally positive, highlighting its potential to enhance monitoring and decision-making in high-stress environments. However, some users noted the need for further develop
Review concludes that VPA technology represents a significant advancement in patient monitoring, promoting better situational awareness and potentially improving safety in perioperative care.
Core Tip: This systematic review examines the use of visual patient avatar technology to enhance perception, integration, and interpretation of medical data. Grounded in psychological and neuroscientific principles, the technology transforms information into intuitive shapes, colors, and animations, providing a clear advantage over traditional numerical formats. By simplifying complex data, it reduces cognitive workload, improves diagnostic accuracy, and bolsters clinical confidence. This innovative approach underscores the potential of visual representations in medical practice, fostering more efficient and effective decision-making processes for healthcare professionals.