Effect of Virtual Reality on Preoperative Anxiety

The Effect of Virtual Reality on Preoperative Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Colorectal Surgery

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of virtual reality (VR) on the preoperative anxietyof patients undergoing colorectal surgery.

The sample of this study consisted of 86 patients in experimental and control groups. The experimental group received VR application in the preoperative period for 10 minutes. Anxiety level was assessed with the Anxiety Specific to Surgery Questionnaire (ASSQ) and measured with physiological responses of anxiety such as systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) before and after VR application.

Inclusion Criteria:The study included

• conscious,
• orientated and cooperated patients who could speak and understand Turkish,
• who had no psychiatric diseases,
• who were 18 years old and older,
• who were scheduled for elective colorectal surgery for the first time,
• who did not take any sedative drugs before surgery, and
• who gave written and oral permission to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:n The study excluded

• had language problems,
• underwent emergency surgery,
• were over 65 years of age and
• refused to participate in the study.