According to research presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2023 annual meeting, virtual reality (VR) could be a powerful tool in reducing the anxiety experienced by parents and caregivers when their child is about to undergo surgery.
Statistics show that around 74% of caregivers feel anxious before their child’s surgical procedure. However, very few hospitals have implemented interventions to address caregiver anxiety.
Caregiver anxiety can have a negative impact on the child’s well-being, making them more distressed before the surgery. This, in turn, can lead to challenges during anesthesia induction, prolonged recovery, increased pain and delirium post-surgery, and lower levels of patient satisfaction.
The study involved 26 caregivers who were responsible for children undergoing either noninvasive or surgical procedures. In the VR intervention, caregivers were guided through mindfulness meditation using a commercially available VR headset. The mindfulness application, developed by the Stanford Chariot Program, created a virtual nature-based landscape that used visual and auditory cues to promote relaxation.
In conclusion, the research suggests that VR can be an effective tool in helping to alleviate the anxiety experienced by caregivers of children undergoing surgery. Implementing VR interventions in hospitals could improve the overall experience for both caregivers and their children, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.
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- Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
- We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
