{"id":3744,"date":"2025-04-06T08:08:42","date_gmt":"2025-04-06T07:08:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vrforhealth.com\/?p=3744"},"modified":"2025-04-06T08:16:04","modified_gmt":"2025-04-06T07:16:04","slug":"sundayresearchdive-testing-virtual-reality-in-preanesthetic-care-what-we-learned-behind-the-scenes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vrforhealth.com\/fr\/2025\/04\/06\/sundayresearchdive-testing-virtual-reality-in-preanesthetic-care-what-we-learned-behind-the-scenes\/","title":{"rendered":"#SundayResearchDive: Testing Virtual Reality in Preanesthetic Care \u2013 What We Learned Behind the Scenes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\ud83d\udccd Published in JMIR Extended Reality, our recent case series explores something simple yet complex:<\/em>
<\/em> Can Virtual Reality (VR) be used in real-life clinical workflows before surgery, not as a study add-on, but as part of actual care?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This #SundayResearchDive brings you the story behind the pilot: what worked, what we learned, and what we\u2019ll change next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83c\udfa5 Behind the Scenes: Recording the 360\u00ba Hospital Walkthrough<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before testing the intervention, we co-created a 360\u00ba video showing the real steps of a patient\u2019s journey on surgery day: from check-in to the operating theatre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udccb The script was co-written with clinical and communication teams and filmed on-site during regular shifts. To avoid disrupting workflow, filming started early in the morning, capturing real hospital dynamics before surgical activity began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\ude7a Nurses and doctors appeared in the video playing their real-life roles, not actors, but actual professionals from our hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcac One unexpected outcome? Several patients recognized the staff from the video during their surgical admission. This created a surprising sense of familiarity and reassurance, turning a sterile, stressful moment into something more human and grounded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udd2c The Core: Learning if VR \u00ab\u00a0Fits\u00a0\u00bb the Hospital Workflow<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udfaf This wasn\u2019t an efficacy trial. It was a usability and feasibility study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Could we integrate Virtual Reality (VR) into routine outpatient surgery workflows?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\ude7a 10 patients | \ud83d\udd76\ufe0f 3 VR interventions | \ud83d\udc68\u200d\u2695\ufe0f Real clinical context<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1\ufe0f\u20e3 Informative 360\u00ba video (preanesthetic visit)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shown individually during the ambulatory anesthesia consultation. Patients viewed the immersive hospital walkthrough using a VR headset, while caregivers followed the content on a connected tablet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2\ufe0f\u20e3 Mindfulness meditation (preparation ward)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delivered once patients were admitted. The session combined beach visuals with a guided meditation recorded by a mindfulness-trained GP. It was the easiest stage to integrate and widely described as calming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3\ufe0f\u20e3 Immersive relaxation (preanesthesia room)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offered during IV line placement. The underwater scene with music aimed to reduce tension, but time pressure and patient stress made this the most challenging to implement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcf2 The headset was connected to a tablet, no internet needed, but still requiring local pairing. This dependency remains a barrier in Wi-Fi-limited clinical spaces and is a key point for future optimization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc69\u200d\u2695\ufe0f The intervention was delivered and evaluated by 3 nurses and 1 anesthesiologist, who rated usability as high and provided key suggestions for improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udcca What We Measured (and Why)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although this was a usability study, we also explored how patients responded – emotionally and physiologically – within the actual surgical workflow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2714\ufe0f Usability<\/strong> \u2013 Could patients and professionals use VR comfortably and meaningfully?
\u2714\ufe0f Physiological\/Anxiety Markers<\/strong> \u2013 Were there visible signs of calming effects, even in this small sample?
\u2714\ufe0f Medication Use<\/strong> \u2013 As an exploratory observation, did VR help reduce reliance on sedatives?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2705 Key Observations: Promising Signals in a Routine Clinical Context<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the VR intervention in place:<\/p>\n\n\n\n