JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

With the rapid development of virtual reality (VR) technology and its deepening application in the medical field, VR tools centered on immersive virtual scenarios have become increasingly popular in preoperative education, attracting attention and exploration from healthcare practitioners. Although relevant research on VR technology has been conducted in the field of preoperative education for patients undergoing general surgery, little is known about preoperative VR visits for patients planned to be transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) postoperatively, as well as the willingness and perceptions of ICU patients’ family members and healthcare providers regarding this technology. Understanding users’ needs is crucial for the practical development and sustainable promotion of VR systems, and this study aims to address this research gap.

Objective:

This study aims to describe the willingness and needs of ICU patients’ family members and healthcare providers regarding preoperative VR visits for patients scheduled to be transferred to the ICU. It further seeks to provide a reference for the future development of standardized, user-centered VR tools for preoperative ICU visits.

Methods:

Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, and core perspectives were extracted using thematic analysis. The researchers primarily interviewed ICU patients’ family members and healthcare providers to explore their willingness and needs regarding preoperative VR visits for elective surgery. Through purposive sampling, 15 nurses, 6 physicians, and 8 family members of ICU patients were enrolled in this study.

Results:

A total of 29 participants were interviewed (including 15 nurses, 6 physicians, and 8 family members of ICU patients), leading to the identification of 4 main themes: （1）Theme 1: Family Members’ Perceptions and Information Needs Regarding the ICU; （2）Theme 2: Willingness and Attitudes Toward VR-Based Preoperative Visits; （3）Theme 3: Expectations for the Function and Design of the VR-Based Preoperative Visit System; （4）Theme 4: Potential Difficulties and Challenges.

Conclusions:

This study qualitatively explored the willingness, needs, and perceptions of ICU patients’ families and healthcare providers toward VR-based preoperative ICU visits. All stakeholders held positive attitudes toward the technology, with differing specific needs and priorities. The findings inform the design and optimization of VR-based preoperative visit systems, and support VR’s effective application in this context. Future research could use these results to develop such VR systems, assess their practical effectiveness, and explore their potential across specialized ICUs.