Virtual reality tied to lower presurgery anxiety in kids
Children who used a virtual reality (VR) headset before surgery showed reduced self-reported distress and fear, along with lower heart rate and blood pressure, according to a new study published Nov. 5 in the journal PLOS Digital Health by Dayanjan Wijesinghe of Virginia Commonwealth University, U.S., and colleagues.
A recent study published in PLOS Digital Health on November 5 reveals that virtual reality (VR) technology may help alleviate pre-surgery anxiety in children. The research, led by Dayanjan Wijesinghe from Virginia Commonwealth University, involved 80 children aged 6 to 15 who were scheduled for elective surgery at a U.S. children's hospital.
The study found that children who used a VR headset before surgery experienced lower self-reported distress and fear, as well as reduced heart rate and blood pressure. Although the changes could partly be attributed to natural improvements over time, the researchers concluded that VR was safe and feasible to implement in a real-world setting, accompanied by clinically meaningful reductions in anxiety.
With further research and controlled trials, VR could become a promising non-pharmacological approach to helping children approach medical procedures with confidence and calm.
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