Evaluating Virtual Reality Education and Distraction Videos to Reduce Preoperative Anxiety in Adults Having Elective Surgery

What this Trial Is About

Preoperative anxiety affects nearly half of surgical patients worldwide and can negatively impact their psychological health and surgical outcomes. Researchers are evaluating co-designed virtual reality-enhanced interventions to help reduce preoperative anxiety symptoms in adults undergoing elective surgery. This trial aims to compare the effects of two types of virtual reality videos with usual care on anxiety, vital signs, life satisfaction, and postoperative anxiety. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups a virtual reality education group, a virtual reality distraction group, or a control group receiving usual care. The education group watches a 6-minute co-designed video depicting preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative scenes, while the distraction group views a 6-minute immersive natural scene video with music. Both videos are delivered through a VR headset. During the study, anxiety levels will be measured before and immediately after the intervention and on the day of surgery. Vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature will also be monitored at these times. Life satisfaction will be assessed before intervention, immediately after, on surgery day, and seven days after surgery, along with postoperative anxiety. Participants will complete a questionnaire evaluating the virtual reality interventions immediately after use. The study is expected to start in February 2026 and continue through December 2026.

Effectiveness of Virtual Reality-enhanced Interventions on Preoperative Anxiety in Adults Undergoing Elective Surgery