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
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2022.491
Citation
Javadi, N., Gwilt, I., and Davis, A. (2022) Potential benefits of designing immersive technologies to reduce anxiety in the perioperative patient journey, in Lockton, D., Lenzi, S., Hekkert, P., Oak, A., Sádaba, J., Lloyd, P. (eds.), DRS2022: Bilbao, 25 June - 3 July, Bilbao, Spain. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2022.491
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Conference Track
Research Paper
Included in
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.