Virtual reality exposure before elective pediatric day-care surgery: effects on pre- and postoperative anxiety and pain

INTERVENTION: VRE preparation encompasses an animated virtual, three dimensional (3D) environment that mimics the environment of the operation theatre in the Sophia Children’s Hospital. In the VRE environment, children will look at the specific procedures they will experience in the holding area, operating and recovery room. Children will receive the VRE preparation using 3D glasses within one hour after hospital admission. The control group will receive care as usual, which means that children and their parents are advised by their anesthesiologist or attending physician to watch the informative online movie of the Erasmus MC‐Sophia. CONDITION: Virtual Reality, Anxiety, Children, Surgery, Pain ; ; PRIMARY OUTCOME: Children’s state anxiety level during induction of anesthesia (measured by the mYPAS, continuous score). SECONDARY OUTCOME: ‐ children’s pre‐ and postoperative anxiety ; ; ‐ postoperative pain ; ; ‐ emergence delirium ; ; ‐ use of analgesics ; ; ‐ health care use, and ; ; ‐ pre‐ and postoperative parental anxiety INCLUSION CRITERIA: Consecutive pediatric patients: ‐ aged 4‐12 years ‐ undergoing day care elective surgery (i.e. ear‐, nose‐, throat, dental, or oral surgery) at the Sophia Children’s Hospital ‐ ASA classification I‐III ‐ undergoing surgery between February 2017 and August 2018