Virtual reality reduces fear in children before surgery

Researchers at the Commonwealth University in Virginia, United States, used virtual reality to help children manage anxiety before surgery.

The team, led by Dayanjan Wijesinghe, studied 80 patients between the ages of 6 and 15 over a nine month period. The children used a Meta Quest headset to explore interactive environments like a children's room or a quiet beach before their scheduled operations.

The researchers aimed to find non-pharmacological alternatives to sedative medications, which are commonly used to treat the anxiety that affects between 50% and 75% of children undergoing surgery. The study showed that children reported lower levels of fear and emotional distress after using the headsets. Specifically, the median score for emotional distress dropped from three to one on a ten point scale, while the median fear score moved from one to zero on a four point scale.

The participants also showed physical changes, including an average decrease of 5.8 beats per minute in heart rate and a reduction of 4.1 millimeters of mercury in systolic blood pressure. While the results were positive, the researchers noted that the study did not include a control group to isolate the effects of the technology from other factors. The team also observed that the largest improvements occurred in patients who started with the highest anxiety levels.

Walaa Abu Rukbah, the study's first author, suggested that these findings could help create a more child-centered pediatric care environment by offering safe alternatives to drugs.