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The Effect of Immersive Virtual Reality Application on Anxiety, Pain, and Parental Satisfaction in the Perioperative
Aykut Turgut1, Arzu Özcan İlçe1, Hülya Öztürk2
1Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Gölköy Campus, Bolu, Turkey.
Insights
Virtual reality (VR) significantly reduced anxiety and increased parental satisfaction in children undergoing surgery. This nonpharmacological approach shows promise for improving the perioperative experience.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Medical Technology
- Psychological Interventions
Background:
- Anxiety and pain are common in children undergoing surgery.
- Parental satisfaction is crucial for a positive healthcare experience.
- Nonpharmacological interventions are sought to manage pediatric perioperative stress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of virtual reality (VR) interventions on children's pre- and postoperative anxiety.
- To assess VR's effect on postoperative pain levels.
- To determine the influence of VR on parental satisfaction during the perioperative period.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 70 children undergoing their first surgery.
- Participants were assigned to either a control group (conventional education) or a VR group (VR video illustration).
- Outcomes measured included preoperative anxiety (Children's State Anxiety Scale), postoperative pain (Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale), and parental satisfaction (PedsQL Health Care Satisfaction Scale).
Main Results:
- The VR group demonstrated significantly lower preoperative anxiety (p < .001) and postoperative anxiety (p = .010) compared to the control group.
- Parental satisfaction scores were significantly higher in the VR group (p < .001).
- While the VR group showed lower postoperative pain scores, the difference was not statistically significant (p > .05).
Conclusions:
- Virtual reality (VR) tours as preoperative education can effectively reduce anxiety in children.
- VR interventions enhance parental satisfaction in the perioperative setting.
- VR presents a promising nonpharmacological strategy for managing pediatric anxiety and improving satisfaction.
Purpose:
To determine the effects of virtual reality (VR) interventions on pre- and postoperative anxiety, pain, and parental satisfaction in children.
Design:
A randomized controlled trial.
Methods:
Children undergoing surgery for the first time and their families were randomly assigned to the control or VR group. The control group received conventional education regarding the perioperative process. The VR group watched a VR video illustrating the operating theater and explaining the perioperative process. The primary outcome of interest was preoperative anxiety, evaluated using the Children's State Anxiety Scale. Secondary outcomes of interest included postoperative pain ratings using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale and parental satisfaction scores using the PedsQL Health Care Satisfaction Scale.
Results:
The analysis included 70 children and their families (control = 35, VR = 35). Demographic characteristics were similar between the groups. Children in the VR group had significantly lower preoperative anxiety scores (p < .001) and postoperative anxiety scores (p = .010) compared to the control group. Parental satisfaction scores were significantly higher in the VR group (p < .001). The VR group had lower postoperative pain scores, but this difference was not statistically significant (p > .05).
Conclusions:
Preoperative education using VR tours may reduce preoperative anxiety and increase parental satisfaction. However, the lack of baseline measurements limits our ability to definitively attribute these effects to the VR intervention. Despite this, VR is a promising nonpharmacological strategy for managing children's anxiety and increasing parental satisfaction.
Clinical Implications:
Virtual reality interventions offer an effective nonpharmacological strategy for perioperatively managing children's anxiety and increasing parental satisfaction.
