Studying Virtual Reality to Reduce Medication Before Elective Cardiac Surgery

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating whether virtual reality can reduce the need for pharmacological premedication in patients undergoing elective surgery who request such medication before their operation. The study aims to see if virtual reality can maintain patient comfort while potentially decreasing the use of drugs and their related side effects during the preoperative period. Participants will experience a 20-minute virtual reality session on the day of surgery after completing their preoperative preparation in the ward. The virtual reality device will offer scenarios and music chosen by the patient, and during this time, the patient will be left resting with minimal interaction. This device-based intervention will be assessed as an alternative or complement to pharmacological premedication. During the study, researchers will monitor whether patients still require pharmacological premedication up to pre-oxygenation on the surgery day. They will also evaluate patient comfort, anxiety levels, vital signs, incidence of cybersickness, and satisfaction before and after surgery. Compliance with the virtual reality session will be tracked, and several clinical and qualitative assessments will be conducted up to 72 hours post-extubation to understand effects and patient experience fully.

Effect of Virtual Reality on the Need of Premedication Before Surgery