Research indicates that patients who underwent conventional surgery were twice as likely to report neutral or negative emotions, while those who underwent VR immersive surgery reported significantly higher levels of positive emotions.
A recent research study conducted by Michigan State University suggests that virtual reality (VR) can significantly reduce anxiety levels during surgery. The study, which was published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, found that patients who immersed themselves in VR during surgery reported experiencing higher levels of pleasure.
The senior author of the study, James Clarkson, an assistant professor of surgery at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, observed an increase in joy among the subjects who were immersed in VR. The researchers also found that patients with anxiety disorders experienced decreased anxiety and increased joy levels when using VR during surgery.
The study compared two groups of patients undergoing carpal tunnel release surgery: one group received general anesthesia, while the other group received local anesthesia and was given the opportunity to use VR. The researchers monitored over 400 patients from three different hospitals for nearly four years, from August 2017 to March 2021.
The findings showed that patients who received traditional surgery were more likely to report neutral or negative emotions compared to those who used VR during surgery. The first group also experienced a reduction in joy and an increase in anxiety (42% versus 26%). However, even patients with anxiety disorders experienced a decrease in anxiety and an increase in joy levels when using VR during surgery.
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