An augmented reality walk through before surgery could make the process less stressful

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-08-18 01:00

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Augmented reality (AR) could be used to prepare patients better before surgery and reduce their pre-operation anxiety, according to international researchers. The team designed an AR experience where patients wore a headset that visually walks them through their trip to the operating room while their surgeon narrates. They tested this experience on 46 patients awaiting surgery and recruited a further 29 patients who received standard pre-operation instructions. Measuring anxiety levels at different stages of the process, the researchers say the AR group experienced a decrease in anxiety on average before their surgery, while those given standard instructions had an increase in anxiety. They say there were no noticeable differences between the two groups after their operations.