Sci Rep. 2026 Jun 23. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-58392-3. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Surgical procedures cause significant stress for children and their caregivers. Virtual reality (VR) may reduce perioperative fear and physiological stress by delivering engaging, preparatory information. This study aimed to determine the effect of a VR-delivered animated educational video on perioperative anxiety and fear in children and their mothers. This randomized controlled study was conducted with a total of 60 children aged 7-13 years and their mothers who underwent day surgery at a tertiary hospital and met the inclusion criteria (Intervention: children n = 30, mothers n = 30; Control: children n = 30, mothers n = 30). Measures for children included the Physiological Parameters Form, Child Fear Scale and Multidimensional Perioperative Anxiety Scale for Children (MPAS-C); mothers completed the State Anxiety Inventory-Short Form. The intervention consisted of a pre-recorded, approximately five-minute VR-delivered animated educational video administered on the morning of surgery. The children in the intervention group showed a steady decline in their fear scores before the procedure (M = 1.47), after the procedure (M = 0.80), and after surgery (M = 0.70). Conversely, children in the control group showed an increase in fear scores from before the procedure (M = 0.73) to after the procedure (M = 1.33), followed by a minimal decrease after surgery (M = 0.83) (p = 0.002, η2 = 0.12). Children’s anxiety scores showed a sharper decline in the intervention group (from M = 151.33 pre-procedure to M = 41.72 post-surgery) compared to the control group (pre-procedure M = 151.37 to postoperative M = 73.67), indicating a larger reduction over time in the intervention group (p < 0.001, η2 = 0.33). Maternal anxiety decreased in both groups, but the VR-delivered animated educational video did not provide a statistically significant additional benefit (p = 0.784). The VR-delivered animated educational video was associated with lower child fear, lower perioperative anxiety, and lower heart rate at specific perioperative time points, while no statistically significant additional benefit was observed for maternal state anxiety.Trial Registration: Clinical Trial Number NCT07131982, registration date 2023-06-20.
PMID:42337300 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-58392-3
