📝 Study Overview: This week, we explore Sargut et al.’s study, “Virtual reality in surgery: minimizing stress and pain in patients undergoing minor surgical procedures under local anesthesia – results of a feasibility study” (International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery, 2024) by Sargut et al. The research evaluates the impact of relaxing immersive content delivered through VR headsets on patient stress and pain levels during minor surgical procedures, offering insights into the potential of relaxation-focused immersive technology to enhance patient experiences.
🔗 Read the full study here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11548-024-03305-w
🔍 Key Insights:
- Stress and Pain Reduction:
- Patients in the VR group reported significantly lower pain perception (p=0.028) and required less local anesthesia (p=0.0025).
- The immersive relaxation-focused content enhanced feelings of calmness and relaxation (p<0>
- High User Acceptance:
- Patients rated the immersive system as user-friendly and expressed a strong willingness to use it again.
- Scenarios like underwater or forest landscapes contributed to positive feedback.
- Correlations with Pain Sensitivity:
- The study found that VR offered particular benefits for patients with higher pain catastrophizing scores, suggesting its potential for tailored interventions.
⚙️ Usability and Results: The study used Pico G2 4K Premium VR headsets with the SyncVR Relax & Distract program to deliver calming, immersive content during surgery. This intervention reduced the need for local anesthesia and improved self-reported relaxation and calmness postoperatively. These findings support the role of tailored immersive content in improving patient outcomes and comfort during medical procedures.
💭 Reflections & Personal Take: Sargut et al.’s study highlights the transformative potential of immersive relaxation-focused content in reducing procedural stress and pain. By emphasizing patient comfort and minimizing pharmacological reliance, this research inspires further exploration into refining immersive content and integrating it seamlessly into clinical workflows. Future studies should address scalability, long-term benefits and comparisons with other non-pharmacological interventions. Building on these findings, researchers and clinicians can unlock the full potential of immersive technologies to enhance patient care, laying the groundwork for innovative, patient-centered medical practices.
🔮 Looking Forward: This study underscores the growing potential of immersive technologies in healthcare. With further optimization and validation, these interventions could become a standard, scalable tool to manage procedural stress and improve outcomes across diverse medical settings.
📊 BSA Pilot Correlation: At Badalona Serveis Assistencials, we’re conducting a pilot study on VR-based interventions, incorporating a multi-stage approach to engage patients at different levels. Inspired by studies like Sargut et al.’s, our design introduces tailored VR scenarios that adapt to individual needs and progress, combining an informative 360-degree video during pre-anesthesia visits, a mindfulness meditation session in the preparation ward and a calming underwater scene in the pre-anesthesia room.
#Innovation #VRHealthcare #Pain Management #StressManagement #SundayResearchDive #Perioperative Management
This article was originally published on vrforhealth