Use of Augmented Reality Reduces Preoperative Anxiety among patients undergoing surgery: JAMA

Augmented Reality (AR) has emerged as a potential game-changer in the field of medicine, offering innovative solutions to address patients' anxiety levels. A recent randomized clinical trial conducted between 2021 and 2022 at an outpatient surgery center has shed light on the positive impact of AR on reducing preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery. The findings were published in Journal of American Medical Association.

The trial involved 95 participants, out of an initial pool of 140 eligible patients, who were divided into two groups. One group received an immersive AR experience that provided an in-depth explanation of the surgical procedure and virtually guided them through the surgery space. The other group was given standard educational materials. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to measure anxiety levels before and after the intervention.

The results were striking. Patients who received the AR intervention exhibited a significant decrease in preoperative anxiety levels, with a mean score change of -2.4. In contrast, the standard care group reported an increase in anxiety levels, with a mean score change of 2.6. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.01). Interestingly, both groups experienced a reduction in anxiety postoperatively, showing an overall decrease compared to both preoperative and initial screening surveys.

Furthermore, patient feedback regarding the AR experience was largely positive. Among those who completed the postoperative follow-up survey, 71.4% agreed or strongly agreed that they enjoyed the AR experience, 69.0% expressed willingness to recommend the AR experience to others, and 66.7% indicated that they would use the AR experience again.

However, the study did not find any significant impact of AR on postoperative anxiety, pain levels, or the use of pain-relieving medications. While AR appears to be a promising tool for alleviating preoperative anxiety, its effectiveness in influencing postoperative outcomes requires further exploration. These findings hold significant implications for the medical community. Integrating AR into the preoperative education process could become a standard practice for reducing patient anxiety. 

Reference:

Rizzo, M. G., Jr, Costello, J. P., II, Luxenburg, D., Cohen, J. L., Alberti, N., & Kaplan, L. D. (2023). Augmented Reality for Perioperative Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Surgery. In JAMA Network Open (Vol. 6, Issue 8, p. e2329310). American Medical Association (AMA). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.29310