Role of virtual reality exposure before elective day care surgery to reduce patient’s distress

Preoperative anxiety is a common condition that can negatively impact patient compliance, pain tolerance, and anesthesia management. Traditional pharmacological treatments include sedatives and anxiolytics, but these can cause adverse effects, such as respiratory issues. Non-pharmacological approaches like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), aromatherapy, and music therapy have also been explored but they require pathways of variable duration that may delay surgery. Virtual reality (VR) is emerging as a promising alternative, allowing patients to engage in immersive experiences that distract them from anxiety-inducing stimuli. A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the impact of VR on preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain in patients undergoing elective surgery. A total of 355 patients were randomized into two groups: Group A received entertainment videos via VR headset during the preoperative phase, while Group B received standard care. The primary outcome was the change in STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) scores at baseline, preoperatively, and postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included pain assessment using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Results showed no significant difference in baseline anxiety scores between the two groups. However, both preoperative and postoperative STAI scores were significantly lower in the VR group (p = 0.001 and 0.005, respectively). Additionally, 12 h post-surgery, patients in the VR group reported significantly lower pain scores (3.6 ± 1.3 vs. 5.6 ± 1.6, p = 0.001). No significant differences in pain scores were observed at 24 and 48 h post-surgery. VR could represent a useful aid in the management of preoperative anxiety.