Doctors are conducting an endoscopic examination in this photo provided by Gangnam Severance Hospital.
SEOUL, Feb. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — In a recent breakthrough, researchers have discovered that utilizing virtual reality (VR) content to promote feelings of calmness and serenity can significantly reduce patient anxiety prior to undergoing an endoscopy procedure.
A research team from Gangnam Severance Hospital divided 40 patients into two groups: a group that was exposed to VR content (20 people) and a group that wasn’t (20 people) ahead of their endoscopies to determine the effectiveness of VR content in reducing anxiety.
The VR group watched 3 to 5 minutes of VR content including underwater scenes accompanied by sounds of a serene garden, beach, and nature.
These videos turned out to be effective in relieving the anxiety borne by patients ahead of their endoscopy.
Looking at the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the VR group had a 10 percent decrease in the number of individuals with an anxiety level of over 45 points.
The group that did not view VR content, in contrast, saw an increase from 35 to 40 percent in the number of individuals with an anxiety level over 45 points.
The satisfaction level towards sedatives prior to the endoscopy was much higher among the VR group than the non-VR group.
“Rising levels of anxiety prior to an endoscopy result in higher stress levels, affecting the individual’s satisfaction level as well as the speed of recovery,” said Park Hyo-jin, a gastroenterology professor at Gangnam Severance Hospital.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
