JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Multisensory food stimuli, taking advantage of conditioned reflex mechanisms, have been shown to promote intestinal motility through the brain-gut axis and may help improve gut function after surgery. To investigate this possibility, we designed a virtual reality (VR) multisensory sham-feeding device that combines visual, auditory, and olfactory stimuli that includes three dining situations and 23 food products with corresponding dentition (food type) odor cues.

Objective:

To evaluate the usability of a VR-based multisensory sham-feeding device in fasted patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer.

Methods:

A mixed-methods study at a tertiary hospital in southwest China. Thirty-seven subjects completed all eligible patients. Quantitative data were gained through the System Usability Scale (SUS), and demographic and clinical characteristics. Qualitative data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analyzed thematically. The study followed the Mixed Methods Research in Health Sciences guidelines, approved by ethics, and registered as a clinical trial (ChiCTR2100051419).

Results:

The evaluation of usability of the VR sham-feeding device among 37 patients fasting postoperatively proved an acceptable usability. The average SUS score was 77.78 ± 7.90 (range: 62.5-97.5). Thematic analysis revealed four main themes: overall experience, influence on discomfort related to perioperative fasting, influence on hunger, and recommendations for device improvement.

Conclusions:

The VR multisensory sham-feeding device showed good usability and was well-received by patients. The device exhibited potential in modulating appetite and emotional states, suggesting its feasibility for enhancing the perioperative fasting experience in colorectal cancer surgical patients. Clinical Trial: Registered as a clinical trial (ChiCTR2100051419).