The effect of virtual reality-based operating room tour on nursing students' anxiety, stress and self-confidence levels in an operating room setting: A randomized controlled trial.

AIM

This study is planned to examine the effect of a virtual reality-based operating room tour on nursing students' anxiety, stress and self-confidence levels experienced in the operating room setting.

BACKGROUND

It is important to know whether the impact of virtual reality-based applications on nursing students' anxiety and stress levels during clinical education.

DESIGN

A Randomized Controlled Trial METHOD: This study was conducted with 82 students. The students in the intervention group (n = 41) were given to experience the operating room environment through a virtual reality-based operating room tour following theoretical training. The students in the control group (n = 41) proceeded directly to clinical practice after the theoretical training. The data were collected after theoretical training, in the clinical simulation training laboratory and during clinical practice.

RESULTS

The mean state anxiety score of the students in the intervention group (39.02 SD 4.76) was found to be statistically significantly lower than that of the students in the control group (41.68 SD 5.72) (p = 0.025). When examining stress levels, the average score of the perceived stress scale subdimension related to ''Stress from the environment'' was lower in the intervention group (5.04 SD 2.09) compared with the control group (7.19 SD 3.43) (p = 0.001). Furthermore, the self-confidence level of the students in the intervention group in the operating room (7.93 SD 1.09) was found to be higher than that of the students in the control group (6.72 SD 1.20) (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Before clinical practice, it was observed that the virtual reality-based operating room tour reduced students' stress and anxiety related to the environment, while also increasing their self-confidence levels.