Impact of Neurosurgical Consultation With 360-Degree Virtual Reality Technology on Patient Engagement and Satisfaction

Abstract

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Virtual Reality (VR) is being applied as a clinical tool to engage and educate patients during their neurosurgery consultation for various skull base and pituitary tumor pathologies. OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of VR implementation on patient satisfaction, understanding and comfort level, shared decision making, and surgical conversion using a 2-fold study. METHODS Patient feedback was collected after consultations with patient-specific VR renderings by Surgical Theater in a prospective survey study. A retrospective review of 257 new patients was also conducted to determine the impact of VR implementation on surgical conversion and patient outmigration rates. RESULTS Patients reported significantly higher ratings for overall satisfaction, understanding of their medical condition and treatment plan, and how well the physician communicated during the VR consultation compared to prior consultation(s). The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores for physician communication, hospital rating, and hospital recommendation were 23%, 24%, and 23%, respectively, higher than the national average. A 32% improvement in patient retention and conversion rates resulted from consultations with patient-specific VR models of their lesions (P < .0001). CONCLUSION These findings indicate that VR is a powerful tool for enhancing patient engagement and education.