Effect of Virtual Operating Room Tour (VORT) on Pre-Operative Anxiety Among Patients Undergoing Major Surgeries.

Abstract

Introduction: The period before surgery is often associated with considerable psychological distress, causing patients to experience
anxiety and stress. Elevated preoperative anxiety can negatively affect patient satisfaction and trigger neuroendocrine responses that
contribute to perioperative complications. Increased anxiety may result in inadequate jaw relaxation, challenges in establishing venous access,
and coughing during anesthetic induction. It can also lead to autonomic instability during surgery and contribute to greater postoperative pain,
nausea, and vomiting.
Objectives: The study was aimed at assessing the level of anxiety preoperatively and finding out the effect of a virtual operating room tour
on anxiety among patients undergoing major surgeries and seeking an association of preoperative anxiety with selected demographic variables.

Methodology: Quasi-experimental pre-test post-test control group design. 62 samples were enrolled by non-probability convenience sampling, which were divided into experimental and controlled groups.The pre-test was administered one day prior to surgery, and intervention was provided to the experimental group, and the post-test was taken one hour prior to surgery. In the control group, the pre-test was administered one day prior to surgery and the post-test one hour prior to surgery.
Result: The anxiety score was significantly reduced after intervention in the post-test. In the pre-test, there was no significant difference in
anxiety score between the experiment and control groups, while in the post-test, the anxiety score was significantly lower in the experiment
group than in the control group. There was a significant association of pre-test anxiety score and gender in the experiment group; females
had more anxiety than males, and there was no significant association of pre-test anxiety score and gender in the control group.

Conclusion: A Virtual Operating Room Tour (VORT) was effective in improving pre-operative anxiety in patients undergoing major surgeries.