Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Feb 18, 2021
Date Accepted: Jun 14, 2021
Date Submitted to PubMed: Aug 3, 2021
Virtual reality tour to reduce perioperative anxiety in an operating setting before anesthesia: A randomized clinical trial
ABSTRACT
Background:
Perioperative anxiety is a major burden to patients undergoing surgeries with general anesthesia.
Objective:
The present study investigated whether a virtual operating room tour (VORT) before surgery can be used to ameliorate perioperative anxiety.
Methods:
We employed a randomized parallel group design with two study arms to compare VORT to the standard operation preparation procedure (STOPP). 84 patients were included in the study. A validated inventory (STOA-State) was used to asses perioperative state anxiety before surgery (T1) and after (T2). Trait operation anxiety was evaluated with an additional validated inventory (STOA-Trait). Moreover, user ratings on the usefulness of VORT were assessed with an evaluation questionnaire. Study arms were compared with respect to perioperative state anxiety with independent samples t-tests. To investigate possible associations of perioperative anxiety with perceived usefulness, subjective ratings were correlated with STOA-Trait values.
Results:
No significant differences in state anxiety were determined between VORT and STOPP before and after the surgery. Nonetheless, overall patients’ ratings of VORT were positive, the tour was perceived as useful and therefore showed acceptance for the use of VR. These ratings were unrelated to the degree of perioperative anxiety.
Results:
No significant differences in state anxiety were determined between VORT and STOPP before and after the surgery. Nonetheless, overall patients’ ratings of VORT were positive, the tour was perceived as useful and therefore showed acceptance for the use of VR. These ratings were unrelated to the degree of perioperative anxiety.
Conclusions:
The subjective benefit of VORT could not be explained by a reduction of perioperative anxiety. Instead, VORT appears to serve the need for information and reduce uncertainty. In addition, VORT is perceived as beneficial regardless of the age of the patients. Considering this effect and the manageable organizational and financial effort for implementation, the general use of VORT can be recommended. Clinical Trial: clinicaltrials.gov on 28.09.2020 NCT04579354
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