Virtual reality combined with the AIDET communication mode for pre-operative visits in alleviating pre-operative anxiety in patients undergoing elective brain tumor resection: a randomized controlled trial
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial
Abstract: To evaluate the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) video combined with the “Acknowledge, Introduction, Duration, Explanation and Thank You” (AIDET) communication mode during pre-operative visits in alleviating pre-operative anxiety in patients undergoing elective brain tumor resection. A single-center, randomized, parallel-group controlled trial was conducted at The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University in China. A total of 108 patients undergoing elective brain tumor resection were randomly allocated to the control group (AIDET alone, n = 54) or the VR intervention group (AIDET combined with VR, n = 54) between January 2022 and December 2022. The State Anxiety Inventory (SAI), heart rate, and systolic blood pressure were assessed before the pre-operative visit on the day before surgery and again 30 min before anesthesia on the day of surgery; patient satisfaction with the pre-operative visit was assessed three days after surgery. A total of 108 patients were randomized (54 per group); 102 patients (52 in the VR intervention group and 50 in the control group) completed the study and were included in the per-protocol analysis, while all randomized patients were included in the primary intention-to-treat analysis. No statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics or baseline anxiety scores were observed between the groups. The SAI score 30 min before anesthesia was significantly lower in the VR intervention group than in the control group (48.35 ± 3.76 vs. 53.92 ± 4.59, P < 0.001). Heart rate (77.98 ± 9.52 vs. 84.52 ± 10.38 beats/min, P = 0.001) and systolic blood pressure (120.38 ± 11.03 vs. 131.38 ± 8.99 mmHg, P < 0.001) before anesthesia were also significantly lower in the VR intervention group. Satisfaction with the pre-operative visit was significantly higher in the VR intervention group than in the control group (19.33 ± 1.12 vs. 17.80 ± 1.82, P < 0.001). In this single-center randomized trial, adding a 360-degree VR experience to AIDET-based pre-operative visits was associated with lower state anxiety, lower heart rate and systolic blood pressure before anesthesia, and higher satisfaction among patients undergoing elective brain tumor resection. Larger, multi-center studies with blinded outcome assessment are warranted to confirm these findings.
Source: Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery
Institutions: Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing Medical University
Language: English
Topic: Music Therapy and Health
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,910
OpenAlex ID: W7223708379