Effect of Virtual Reality Use on Preoperative Anxiety
Effect of Virtual Reality Use on Preoperative Anxiety: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Interventional Study (VeRA-Study)
Vera Guttenthaler
172 participants
Jan 28, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a non-pharmacological intervention-the use of a virtual reality headset-on preoperative anxiety levels in patients. For this purpose, both psychometric instruments (STOA and APAIS questionnaires) and objective physiological and EEG parameters are used. Patients who do not receive any additional intervention will form the control group. The study was designed as a prospective, randomized, controlled, interventional study at the University Hospital Bonn. Patients aged 18 years and older who are scheduled to undergo elective surgery and who have no visual, hearing, or language impairments will be included in the study. The primary objective of the study is the reduction of preoperative anxiety. The hypothesis is that preoperative use of the VR headset reduces perioperative anxiety, stress, and pain.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria6
- Age ≥ 18 years
- Written informed consent
- All consecutive patients undergoing elective, outpatient, or inpatient surgery
- No communication difficulties (e.g., hearing impairment) and good command of the German language
- No visual impairment
- Planned extubation immediately after surgery
Exclusion Criteria7
- Patients undergoing emergency surgery
- Patients with documented psychiatric disorders (e.g., bipolar disorder), confusion, or epilepsy
- Individuals admitted due to a court or official order
- Expected non-compliance with the study protocol
- Expected admission to an intermediate care unit (IMC) or intensive care unit (ICU)
- Patients receiving sedative or anxiolytic medication for premedication
- Patients with pacemakers or defibrillators
Interventions
he VR headset creates an immersive environment that allows patients to distance themselves from the real surroundings. Calming visual and auditory stimuli can be presented through the VR headset, promoting relaxation. Initial results have shown that this application can reduce preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain perception in adult patients and may offer a non-pharmacological alternative to benzodiazepines and opioids. The Effect of Virtual Reality on Preoperative Anxiety: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials by Chiu demonstrated a reduction in anxiety in the intervention group among adults, with an effect size of 0.57.
Locations(1)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
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NCT07270445