What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of virtual reality (VR) education on reducing anxiety and fear in children undergoing surgery.

June 26, 2026Scientific ReportsOpen Access

Preoperative virtual reality education for children undergoing surgery: a randomized controlled trial

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

Randomized trial shows VR education reduces perioperative anxiety and fear in children, suggesting effective pre-surgery preparation.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of virtual reality (VR) education on reducing anxiety and fear in children undergoing surgery.
Randomized controlled trial with 60 children, aged 7–13, and their mothers. Interventions group received a VR animated education video; control group did not.
Measures included Physiological Parameters Form and anxiety scales for children, and State Anxiety Inventory for mothers.
Intervention administered on the morning of surgery.
Children in the intervention group showed significantly reduced fear scores (M = 0.70 after surgery) compared to the control group (M = 0.83 after surgery) with p = 0.002.
Children's anxiety scores decreased more sharply in the intervention group (M = 41.72 post-surgery) versus control (M = 73.67 post-surgery), p < 0.001.
No significant impact on maternal anxiety from the VR intervention with p = 0.784.

Efe et al. (2026) studied this question.

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark