This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) applications in promoting early mobilization exercises for patients undergoing open-heart surgery. Virtual reality is a non-invasive, easily accessible, and innovative method increasingly used in healthcare settings, including rehabilitation and exercise interventions. Evidence from the literature highlights VR's potential to reduce anxiety, and improve recovery in various patient groups. Despite its extensive applications, there is limited research on the impact of VR in the early postoperative care of cardiac surgery patients. This study addresses this gap by investigating the role of VR-based exercises in improving physical activity and rehabilitation outcomes during the critical early recovery period after surgery. Participants will engage in a VR-supported rehabilitation program during their hospital stay. The study will assess the effects of VR exercises on early mobilization, and overall recovery. The results aim to contribute to the growing field of digital health and provide evidence for integrating VR into postoperative care to enhance the quality of nursing care and patient outcomes.

This study investigates the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) applications in supporting early mobilization exercises for patients undergoing open-heart surgery. The intervention leverages VR technology as a non-invasive, accessible, and engaging tool to enhance recovery outcomes in the critical early postoperative period. While VR has been widely used in rehabilitation for various patient populations, its application in cardiac surgery for early mobilization remains limited and underexplored. Using a randomized controlled trial design, this research evaluates the impact of VR-based exercises compared to standard care on patients' physical activity, motivation, and recovery. The intervention focuses on promoting physical mobility through interactive VR modules designed to facilitate rehabilitation exercises in a hospital setting. Additionally, the study examines the psychological and social benefits of VR, including its potential to reduce anxiety and improve emotional well-being during the recovery process. This research aims to address a gap in the literature by focusing on the early postoperative phase, where effective mobilization is critical to preventing complications and promoting faster recovery. The study is aligned with the Republic of Turkey's 12th Development Plan, emphasizing the integration of digital health technologies into routine healthcare services to improve patient outcomes and quality of care. The findings from this study are expected to provide valuable evidence supporting the adoption of VR in postoperative care for open-heart surgery patients. By demonstrating its effectiveness as a cost-efficient and scalable intervention, this research seeks to contribute to the development of innovative and patient-centered approaches in nursing care and digital health practices.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Those who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study and written consent was obtained,
• 18 years and over,
• Literate,
• Understand and speak Turkish language,
• No sensory problem (auditory, visual)
• Person, place and time oriented,
• No cognitive problems in expressing themselves,
• Does not have any physical limitation (disability),
• Patients undergoing planned open heart surgery for the first time

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with neurological problems (stroke, etc.),
• Patients who develop complications related to surgery in the clinic (delirium, arterial fibrillation, sternal angulation, etc.),
• History of cerebrovascular events,
• Patients with a Glasgow scale <15,
• Patients with complaints of vertigo, dizziness, etc.
• Patients with impaired hemodynamics when wearing glasses
• Deterioration of the general condition of the patient
• Patient abandonment of the study
• Death of the patient
• Patients who develop nausea and vomiting while wearing virtual reality glasses

The following Individual Participant Data (IPD) will be shared as part of this study:

De-identified Participant Data:

Demographic and baseline characteristics (age, gender, clinical history). Outcome measures, including mobility scores, pain levels (VAS), kinesiophobia scores (Tampa Scale), walking distance, and step count.

Length of hospital stay.

Data Types:

Primary and secondary outcome data collected during the intervention period.

Exclusions:

No personally identifiable information (e.g., names, hospital IDs) will be shared to ensure confidentiality.

Data Format:

Data will be shared in anonymized datasets suitable for statistical analysis (e.g., CSV or Excel format).

This data will be made available to researchers upon request and approval, solely for academic purposes, and in accordance with ethical guidelines and data-sharing agreements.

Start Date: Data will be available starting 6 months after the publication of study results.

End Date: Data access will remain open for 5 years following the start date. This time frame ensures adequate time for data curation and compliance with ethical and legal guidelines while allowing ample opportunity for secondary research.

Who Can Access:

Researchers affiliated with academic, non-profit, or healthcare institutions. Individuals conducting studies for non-commercial purposes.

What Can Be Accessed:

De-identified participant-level data, including baseline characteristics and outcome measures.

Study protocol, statistical analysis plan, and informed consent templates.

How to Access:

Researchers must submit a formal data request, including a research proposal, study objectives, and intended use of the data.

Requests should be directed to the corresponding author or principal investigator via the designated contact email.

A data-sharing agreement will be required to ensure ethical use, confidentiality, and compliance with applicable regulations.

Conditions:

Access will only be granted for projects aligned with the original study objectives or for advancing related scientific knowledge.

Data must not be shared with third parties or used for commercial purposes. Acknowledgment of the original study in any resu

In this study, participants and clinicians administering the intervention will not be masked due to the nature of the virtual reality (VR) application. However, the data analysis will be blinded to ensure unbiased interpretation of results. The analysts will not have access to group allocation information, allowing for objective evaluation of the collected data. No additional parties involved in the clinical trial, beyond the data analysts, are masked.