ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Being in a hospital and undergoing a surgical intervention are very stressful for the children and their parents. It is critical to keep the pain, fear and anxiety of children at a minimum level during this period in order to have a better process. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of watching videos using virtual reality on fear and anxiety of children aged 6-12 years old during operating room transfer for inguinal hernia surgery. METHODS: This prospective and randomized controlled study used parallel trial design guided by the CONSORT checklist. The study was conducted with two groups: the group that watch videos using virtual reality group and the control group. Data were collected using follow-up forms; the Children's State Anxiety Scale and the Children's Fear Scale. RESULTS: Children in the virtual realty group had lower anxiety and fear scores than the children in the control group (p < 0.05). Evaluation of the in-group measurements demonstrated that the fear and anxiety scores of the children in the virtual reality group decreased after the transfer compared to that of the pre-transfer, while the children in the control group experienced higher fear and anxiety scores (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Virtual reality is an effective method to reduce fear and anxiety in children aged 6-12 years old during their transfer to the operating room. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Evidence-based protocol and guidelines should be developed for nonpharmacological methods such as virtual reality for procedural fear and anxiety in children.
