The effect of virtual reality application on anxiety, pain and family satisfaction in the perioperative process of children

This study was carried out to examine the effects of surgical preparation using virtual reality glasses on preoperative anxiety, postoperative anxiety and pain, and family satisfaction in children who will undergo surgery for the first time. The participants in the study consisted of children aged 4-10 and their families who were hospitalized in Bolu province, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, İzzet Baysal Training, and Research Hospital and will be operated for the first time. Seventy children were randomly allocated into either the control (K) or virtual reality (SG) group. While the control group received standard care, the virtual reality group was shown a video of the operating room tour with virtual reality glasses before the surgery and cartoons during their post-operative nursing interventions. The data were collected by the researcher using face-to-face interview technique and patient follow-up. The analysis of the data was made using a statistics program. Data are expressed as percentage, mean ± standard deviation. In the analysis of the data, Independent-Samples T Test, Mann – Whitney U Test, chi square tests and correlation coefficient calculation were used. When the preoperative anxiety scores were compared, the mean anxiety score of the SG group (4.57±1.54) was much lower than the control group (6.43 ±1.58), and the difference between them was statistically significant (p <0.001). In the comparison of postoperative anxiety scores, it was found that the mean anxiety score of the SG group (3.23 ± 1.80) and the mean anxiety score of the control group (4.34±1.73) were statistically significant (p = 0.010). When the pain scores were compared, it was found that the mean pain score of the SG group (3.20±0.99) was lower than the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant (p> 0.05). In the comparison of family satisfaction scores, it was found that the family satisfaction scores of the SG group were higher and statistically significant (p≤0,001). In conclusion; It was observed that the operating theater tour shown with virtual reality glasses during the pre-operative education of children, was an effective method in reducing both pre-operative and postoperative anxiety, cartoon shown as a distraction tool is effective in reducing postoperative pain and whole this process was found to be usefull method for increasing parental satisfaction.