Use of virtual reality in preoperative education of cardiac surgery patients – A feasibility study

Michelle M. van Rijn, Linda M. de Heer, Jenny Nieuwenhuis-Wendt, Niels P. van der Kaaij, Eveline G.E. Moolenaar, Daan Halle van der Ham, Lars van der Plank, Heleen Westland, Saskia W.M. Weldam*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Objective: A Virtual Patient Tour (VPT) was developed to inform cardiac surgery patients about their hospitalization from the admission to their postoperative stay on the ward. The objective of our study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of this VPT following the framework of the Virtual Reality Clinical Outcomes Research Experts Committee. Methods: In this single-centre cross-sectional study, adult patients admitted to the hospital for elective cardiac surgery were included. Acceptability, usability, and tolerability were measured by the validated questionnaires Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (acceptability), System Usability Scale (usability), and Virtual Reality Sickness Questionnaire (tolerability). Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis. Results: Twenty-eight participants used the VPT. Results showed high acceptability (mean 16.7 ± 1.5), acceptable usability (mean 86.7 ± 9.3), and high tolerability (sickness score, median 7.1 % [0–17.1 %]). Conclusion: The use of the VPT is a feasible and promising technique. The next step is to optimize the content and technique of the VPT based on the suggestions of the participants. Practice implications: We recommend incorporating the VPT into preoperative patient education in addition to the routine information in cardiac surgery patients.

Original languageEnglish
Article number108394
Number of pages7
JournalPatient Education and Counseling
Volume129
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024

Keywords

  • Cardiac surgery
  • Feasibility studies
  • Patient education
  • Virtual reality

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