Abstract
Background: Virtual Reality (VR) technologies have numerous beneficial applications for patients during hospitalization (through complete immersion in a virtual, distant place allowing to “escape” from the context of hospitalization). Their positive effects in pain and anxiety management, neurorehabilitation and psychotherapy have been demonstrated. Here, we evaluated the effects of VR on the quality of hospitalization and postoperative pain after neurosurgery.Methods: Patients hospitalized in our department between 2019 and 2020 were prospectively enrolled and divided into a group that received a personal, 30-minutes-long, VR session using an Oculus Go ™ VR headset (VR group) or not (non-VR group). Surgeries were classified in simple or complex spinal and simple or complex cranial. Patient‘s overall satisfaction was considered as primary outcome, with secondary outcomes encompassing duration of hospitalization, pain reduction and patients’ opinion regarding VR.Results: 161 patients were enrolled (77 in the VR group and 84 in the non-VR group). There was no statistical difference between the two groups regarding satisfaction. The VR group presented with a significantly longer duration of hospitalization and higher maximal pain. Interestingly, pain reduction during hospitalization was significantly higher in the VR group, particularly in simple surgeries and spine surgeries. A vast majority of the VR group patients appreciated their VR experience (89.2%) and advocated for its systematic use (83.8%).Conclusion: VR can improve pain reduction during hospitalization after neurosurgery, particularly for simple spine surgeries. Furthermore, patients experiencing VR appear to appreciate it and advocate for its systematic use in neurosurgery. Further research is warranted to identify patients for whom addition of VR during hospitalization might bring the most benefit.
Highlights
Hospitalized patients frequently experience physical, emotional, and social distress that is further exacerbated by a radical change in living environment, loss of customary rights and privileges, and a high prevalence of pain (Henderson, 1976)
Pain reduction during hospitalization was significantly higher in the Virtual Reality (VR) group, in simple surgeries and spine surgeries
The difference between PainMax and Painmin (ΔPain), corresponding to the improvement in pain during the hospitalization, was significantly higher in the VR group compared to the non-VR group (p 0.011, η (Helfand and Freeman, 2009) 0.06961), suggesting a higher improvement regarding pain. These results suggest that VR might improve pain recovery following neurosurgical interventions, in patients presenting higher levels of pain and remaining for a longer duration in hospital
Summary
Hospitalized patients frequently experience physical, emotional, and social distress that is further exacerbated by a radical change in living environment, loss of customary rights and privileges, and a high prevalence of pain (Henderson, 1976). Intense forms of surgical distress can activate the sympathetic nervous system and downregulate immune functions (Moon and Cho, 2001). By addressing this issue, hospitals might improve surgical outcomes, patient recovery and patient psychological and physical well-being. Virtual Reality (VR) technologies have numerous beneficial applications for patients during hospitalization (through complete immersion in a virtual, distant place allowing to “escape” from the context of hospitalization). Their positive effects in pain and anxiety management, neurorehabilitation and psychotherapy have been demonstrated. We evaluated the effects of VR on the quality of hospitalization and postoperative pain after neurosurgery
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