Virtual reality demonstrations may help patients feel less anxious and better informed before undergoing medical procedures, according to research presented on Mar. 13 at the European Association of Urology Congress in London.
The study highlights the potential for VR technology to improve patient understanding during the consent process, especially for those who may struggle with complex medical information. Researchers say that many adults have difficulty comprehending traditional written materials, which can affect their ability to make fully informed decisions about treatment.
The research focused on patients scheduled for shockwave lithotripsy, a non-invasive procedure used to break up kidney stones. Participants experienced a VR simulation that placed them in a virtual operating room, allowing them to observe a 3D demonstration of the procedure and view key risks and benefits from multiple angles. The study involved 150 people aged between 22 and 80 at University Hospital Southampton.
After participating in the VR experience, patients reported improved understanding of what to expect from the procedure and reduced anxiety levels. The effect was most notable among patients aged 65 and older. No significant differences were observed between male and female participants.
Consultant urological surgeons Bhaskar Somani and Amelia Pietropaolo led the study, with Phoebe Reynolds of Surgassists developing the technology. Solomon Bracey, a medical student at the University of Southampton who presented the findings, said: "There is currently a mismatch between the complexity of information provided to patients and the level which most people can comprehend. This risks people consenting to procedures they don't fully understand. VR has been shown to improve learning and knowledge retention, and our study suggests it could be used to help people to make more fully informed decisions about their health. We were also encouraged by what we saw in pain questionnaires, which gives us an important question to explore in future research."
Researchers plan further studies to investigate whether using VR as part of patient consent could also help reduce pain during medical procedures.
