Pediatric Preoperative Virtual Reality Program

Does the introduction of a preparatory virtual reality (VR) program that is used in the home environment, have an effect on the anxiety level of children immediately before surgery, prior to administration of preoperative sedatives?

Up to 60% of children who require elective surgery report significant anxiety in the preoperative setting. Severe perioperative anxiety of a child poses a major challenge for the surgeon, since it is often accompanied by adverse behavioral and emotional reactions and associated with a complicated operative and postoperative course. The investigators have made the personal experience that informing the children ahead of time about what to expect in the hospital, decreases child anxiety and increases parent satisfaction. There is considerable debate on the best way how to inform children about what to expect during their hospital stay. The investigators had a virtual reality application developed that introduces the children to several aspects of the hospital environment. Therefore, these children now ahead of time what they will experience during their hospital stay. The aim is to evaluate the effect of this preparatory virtual reality application on the anxiety level of children immediately before surgery.