Enhancing preoperative patient education through virtual reality: A leap forward in nursing practice

Abstract

Integration of virtual reality (VR) technology into preoperative patient education has shown potential to improve nursing practice. The study by Kim et al examines the impact of VR on nurse satisfaction, usability, and burnout. A prospective study involving 20 nurses and 80 patients was conducted, comparing traditional paper-based education with VR-based education in the plastic surgery ward at Chungnam National University Hospital. Findings demonstrated that VR significantly enhanced satisfaction and usability among nurses, while also reducing emotional exhaustion, a critical factor in nurse burnout. Consistency in education quality was also improved, ensuring uniform patient care. These results underscore the importance of VR in reducing the stress of repetitive tasks, improving job satisfaction, and potentially enhancing nurse retention. Future research should explore the broader applications of VR in healthcare and address the logistical challenges of integrating this technology into routine clinical practice. The study by Kim et al highlights VR’s transformative potential in preoperative education for both patients and healthcare providers.

Key Words: Virtual reality; Preoperative education; Nurse satisfaction; Usability; Burnout

Core Tip: Virtual reality (VR) technology significantly enhances preoperative patient education by improving nurse satisfaction and usability while reducing burnout. The study by Kim et al highlights that VR-based methods offer superior ease of use and confidence for nurses compared to traditional paper-based approaches, and effectively decrease emotional exhaustion. VR's ability to deliver consistent, engaging educational content makes it a promising tool for improving both patient and provider experiences in healthcare settings.

TO THE EDITOR

The integration of virtual reality (VR) in healthcare has led to transformative changes, particularly in clinical medicine, where it has shown potential to enhance patient care and education[1]. VR has been shown to improve clinical outcomes in various fields, including pain management and patient rehabilitation[2]. In addition to its clinical applications, VR has emerged as a powerful tool in medical education, significantly enhancing learning outcomes and skill acquisition[3].

VR's ability to manage pain and reduce patient discomfort in both acute and chronic settings has further solidified its role in healthcare[4]. Moreover, systematic reviews have emphasized its rehabilitative potential in a variety of contexts[5]. In preoperative settings, VR has been shown to reduce patient anxiety and improve satisfaction by providing more engaging and understandable education[6].

Despite these advancements, limited research has focused on how VR impacts nursing staff, particularly in terms of addressing burnout and emotional exhaustion. Kim et al[7] aims to fill this gap by exploring how VR can enhance nurse satisfaction, reduce emotional exhaustion, and ensure more consistent delivery of patient education.

METHODOLOGY

The study by Kim et al[7] involved 20 nurses selected based on their professional experience, focusing on those with less than two years in practice. The selection of 80 patients was random, ensuring a diverse patient population undergoing elective surgeries in a plastic surgery ward. The VR content provided to patients included 3D interactive models and video explanations of surgical procedures, post-operative care, and recovery timelines. This educational material was designed to standardize information delivery, reduce variability in the education provided by different nurses, and allow patients to explore the information at their own pace, improving their comprehension and satisfaction with preoperative care.

SYSTEM USABILITY SCALE AND AFTER-SCENARIO QUESTIONNAIRE

The system usability scale (SUS) and after-scenario questionnaire (ASQ) were used to evaluate the usability and satisfaction of the VR system. These tools were selected for their simplicity, brevity, and widespread use in healthcare settings. SUS provides a reliable assessment of usability across various interfaces, while ASQ captures satisfaction in real-time, particularly useful in evaluating patient-nurse interactions. The decision to use these scales over other potential tools stemmed from their appropriateness in assessing technology-based interventions in clinical environments, where time constraints are a significant concern[1,2].

KEY FINDINGS

Improved satisfaction and usability

Nurses using VR for patient education in the study by Kim et al[7] reported significantly higher satisfaction and usability scores compared to traditional methods. The VR system was easier to integrate into their workflow, enhancing their confidence and reducing the time spent on repetitive educational tasks[3,4].

Reduction in emotional exhaustion

One of the most critical findings in the study by Kim et al[7] was the significant reduction in emotional exhaustion among nurses using VR. This reduction is particularly important, as burnout remains a pressing issue in nursing, especially in high-stress environments like surgical wards[5].

Consistency in educational delivery

VR ensures that every patient receives consistent information, reducing discrepancies that may arise from individual nurse interpretations. This consistency enhances the overall quality of patient education and contributes to better patient outcomes[6].

Broader implications

While the study by Kim et al[7] focused on preoperative education in a plastic surgery unit, the broader implications of VR technology extend to various healthcare fields, including rehabilitation, chronic pain management, and even medical training[8,9].

DISCUSSION

The findings of Kim et al[7] align closely with previous research demonstrating the benefits of VR in healthcare settings. As previous studies have shown, VR is a powerful tool for improving patient understanding and reducing preoperative anxiety. For example, Bekelis et al[6] highlighted how immersive preoperative VR experiences significantly reduced patient anxiety and increased their confidence in understanding the surgical procedure. Similarly, research by Kwon et al[8] confirmed that VR not only enhances the patient’s comprehension of complex medical information but also reduces the anxiety associated with surgery, thereby improving the overall preoperative experience.

VR has also proven its effectiveness in the realm of medical education and training. The interactive nature of VR, as Pottle[3] suggests, enhances learning outcomes and supports skill acquisition by providing immersive, hands-on experiences that are difficult to replicate with traditional teaching methods. These advances in medical education show how VR can revolutionize both patient care and professional development. Moreover, Li et al[1] demonstrated that the clinical application of VR is beneficial not only for patients but also for healthcare workers, improving workflow efficiency and reducing the cognitive burden on clinicians. Despite these broad applications, the impact of VR on nursing staff has remained an underexplored area of research.

The study by Kim et al[7] addresses this gap by focusing on how VR impacts nurses, particularly concerning burnout and emotional exhaustion. Nurse burnout, a well-documented issue in high-stress environments such as surgical wards, can have far-reaching consequences for both healthcare providers and patients. The findings of Kim et al[7], which indicate a significant reduction in burnout symptoms—especially emotional exhaustion—are a substantial advancement. Nurse burnout, as Howard[5] points out, is closely associated with emotional strain, physical fatigue, and a sense of depersonalization, which together can compromise patient care and lead to higher turnover rates among healthcare staff. By reducing the repetitive and stressful nature of patient education through standardized VR-based education, the study by Kim et al[7] suggests that VR can contribute to a more sustainable and satisfying work environment for nurses.

In addition to improving patient outcomes, VR can streamline nursing tasks, reducing the cognitive load and emotional stress associated with patient education. Ahmadpour et al[4] found that VR's ability to deliver consistent, engaging content reduces the variability in patient education, ensuring that every patient receives the same high-quality information regardless of the individual nurse’s experience or approach. This consistency not only improves patient outcomes but also relieves nurses from the repetitive task of explaining complex medical procedures, thus reducing their emotional exhaustion. The findings of Kim et al[7] reinforce this, showing that VR can be a powerful tool for both patient education and nurse well-being.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

While the study by Kim et al[7] presents compelling evidence for the benefits of VR in preoperative education, further research is needed to explore its impact on other dimensions of burnout, such as depersonalization. Additionally, larger, multi-center studies with diverse patient populations will help validate these findings and expand the generalizability of the results[10].

Moreover, the cost and logistical challenges of implementing VR should be addressed. As the technology becomes more affordable and accessible, it is crucial to develop standardized protocols and training programs to ensure effective integration into clinical practice[11]. Studies like those by Ahmadpour et al[4] and Fischer et al[12] have shown that interactive VR content enhances engagement and satisfaction compared to passive forms of VR, which may be particularly relevant in high-stress healthcare environments. Understanding these nuances will help tailor VR interventions to specific healthcare settings.

CONCLUSION

The study by Kim et al[7] underscores the transformative potential of VR in healthcare, particularly in improving nursing practices related to preoperative education. Based on these findings, healthcare institutions should seriously consider integrating VR into their standard preoperative education protocols. VR not only enhances patient outcomes but also significantly reduces nurse burnout, which can contribute to higher nurse retention rates. These results should encourage healthcare providers to explore broader applications of VR, making it a standard part of patient education and support systems.