Abstract

This research investigates if virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) technologies can be used to help people cope with the anxiety associated with a surgical procedure in the patient health care journey. Perioperative anxiety is a natural response to surgery stress which may happen at any point before or after a surgical procedure. Research has shown that high level of perioperative anxiety are a potential health and recovery threat for a patient due to the effects on psychologic and physiologic responses. The concept of Digital Health is increasingly playing a more substantial role in health care provision and there is a body of research showing that technology-based therapeutic tools can play an effective, acceptable, and cost- effective role in many aspects of health care delivery. Through a series of multistakeholder engagement activities, this research aims to devising a set of guiding principles and practices for the design and application of AR/VR interventions in the clinical setting. This paper presents the findings from a Policy Delphi study, conducted with healthcare professionals working in perioperative environments.

Keywords

perioperative anxiety, digital health, patient experience, user-centered design

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

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Research Paper

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Jun 25th, 9:00 AM

Potential benefits of designing immersive technologies to reduce anxiety in the perioperative patient journey

This research investigates if virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) technologies can be used to help people cope with the anxiety associated with a surgical procedure in the patient health care journey. Perioperative anxiety is a natural response to surgery stress which may happen at any point before or after a surgical procedure. Research has shown that high level of perioperative anxiety are a potential health and recovery threat for a patient due to the effects on psychologic and physiologic responses. The concept of Digital Health is increasingly playing a more substantial role in health care provision and there is a body of research showing that technology-based therapeutic tools can play an effective, acceptable, and cost- effective role in many aspects of health care delivery. Through a series of multistakeholder engagement activities, this research aims to devising a set of guiding principles and practices for the design and application of AR/VR interventions in the clinical setting. This paper presents the findings from a Policy Delphi study, conducted with healthcare professionals working in perioperative environments.

 

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