Using Immersive Virtual Reality Distraction to Reduce Fear and Anxiety before Surgery.

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Medical Technology
• Psychology

Background:

• Presurgical anxiety is prevalent and commonly managed with sedatives, posing risks of adverse events.
• Minimizing sedation can improve cognitive recovery and shorten hospital stays post-surgery.
• Non-pharmacologic anxiolytics are sought to reduce sedative-related complications.

Observation:

• A case study explored interactive eye-tracked virtual reality (VR) for a physically immobilized presurgical patient.
• A within-subject design compared periods with and without VR intervention.
• Anxiety and fear levels were measured using subjective ratings and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.

Findings:

• Interactive eye-tracked VR reduced presurgical anxiety by 67% compared to standard care.
• Fear levels decreased from 8/10 (no VR) to 0/10 (VR).
• The patient reported a strong sense of presence, no nausea, and recommended VR for future patients.

Implications:

• Interactive VR with eye tracking is an effective non-pharmacologic method for reducing pre-operative anxiety and fear.
• Findings support VR's utility in perioperative settings, with increasing accessibility of the technology.
• Further large-scale studies are warranted to confirm VR's potential as a non-drug anxiety management technique.