Abstract
BackgroundPerioperative anxiety is a major burden to patients undergoing surgeries with general anesthesia.ObjectiveThis study investigated whether a virtual operating room tour (VORT) before surgery can be used to ameliorate perioperative anxiety.MethodsWe employed a randomized parallel-group design with 2 study arms to compare VORT to the standard operation preparation procedure. The study included 84 patients. A validated inventory (state-trait operation anxiety-state) was used to assess perioperative state anxiety before (T1) and after (T2) surgery. In addition, trait operation anxiety was evaluated with an additional validated inventory (state-trait operation anxiety-trait). Moreover, user ratings on the usefulness of VORT were assessed with an evaluation questionnaire. Study arms were compared for perioperative state anxiety with two-tailed independent samples t tests. Subjective ratings were correlated with STOA-Trait values to investigate possible associations between perioperative anxiety with perceived usefulness.ResultsThere were no significant differences in perioperative state anxiety between VORT and standard operation preparation procedures before and after the surgery. Nonetheless, patients’ ratings of VORT overall were positive. The tour was perceived as useful and, therefore, showed acceptance for VR use. These ratings were unrelated to the degree of perioperative anxiety.ConclusionsThe subjective benefit of VORT could not be explained by a reduction of perioperative anxiety. Instead, VORT appears to serve the need for information and reduce uncertainty. In addition, VORT is perceived as beneficial regardless of the age of the patients. Considering this effect and the manageable organizational and financial effort toward implementation, the general use of VORT can be recommended.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04579354; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04579354
Highlights
Fear and anxiety are very common in patients prior to surgery with anesthesia
Virtual stimulus exposure is successful in exposure therapy for the treatment of anxiety and tension [3]
This study aimed to evaluate the use of virtual reality (VR) exposure via a virtual operating room tour (VORT) on perioperative anxiety in adult patients undergoing surgeries with general anesthesia
Summary
Fear and anxiety are very common in patients prior to surgery with anesthesia This perioperative anxiety can lead to additional discomfort, increased pain sensation, and increased stress symptoms [1,2]. Objective: This study investigated whether a virtual operating room tour (VORT) before surgery can be used to ameliorate perioperative anxiety. Results: There were no significant differences in perioperative state anxiety between VORT and standard operation preparation procedures before and after the surgery. The tour was perceived as useful and, showed acceptance for VR use These ratings were unrelated to the degree of perioperative anxiety. VORT is perceived as beneficial regardless of the age of the patients Considering this effect and the manageable organizational and financial effort toward implementation, the general use of VORT can be recommended.
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