Effects of preoperative education using virtual reality on preoperative anxiety and information desire: a randomized clinical trial.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of preoperative education using virtual reality (VR) on preoperative anxiety and information desire. The participants were randomly assigned to the VR group and control group. The VR group received preoperative education using VR content describing preoperative and postoperative processes and their management, and the control group received preoperative education with traditional verbal education. Preoperative anxiety and information desire were measured using the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS). Additionally, patient satisfaction was investigated. Preoperative anxiety (APAIS-A) and information desire (APAIS-I) scores were statistically significantly different between the VR group and the control group (p < 0.001). Patient satisfaction was not statistically significant (p = 0.147). Preoperative education using VR effectively reduced preoperative anxiety and information desire.Trial registration CRIS, KCT0007489. Registered 30 June 2022. http://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/ .