The Effect of a VIrtual RealiTy Immersive Experience Upon Anxiety Levels in Patients Undergoing CArdiac caTHeterisation: The VIRTUAL CATH Trial

Patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation are understandably anxious. This is due to a lack of familiarity with both the hospital environment and the planned procedure. Anxiety may negatively affect their patient experience. Appropriate patient information can help improve understanding and reduce anxiety. In particular, video-based patient information prior to cardiac catheterisation has been shown to improve patient's knowledge and reduce peri-procedural anxiety. Generic video-based patient information about the cardiac catheterisation procedure is widely available. Ideally any patient information delivered pre-cardiac catheterization would be specific to the hospital delivering care. The use of virtual reality (VR) in healthcare is novel, but expanding rapidly. The immersive nature of VR allows patients a unique opportunity to prepare for the procedure and environment within which they will be treated. To date, the use of VR to prepare patients for invasive cardiac procedures has not been studied.

The aim of this study is to assess whether the use of an immersive VR experience decreases peri-procedural anxiety in patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation. The investigators will also assess whether the VR experience improves overall patient satisfaction.

With the help of a local media company, a VR cardiac catheterisation video was produced (Figure 1 depicts a screenshot from the VR video). The video is watched with a VR headset to create a 360 immersive experience. The investigators are undertaking a single-centre randomised control trial comparing the use of an immersive VR experience 1 week prior to catheterisation with standard pre-procedural care. Pre procedural anxiety levels and procedural knowledge are assessed by questionnaire, using the validated six-item short-form of the Strait Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). A satisfaction questionnaire is also completed before the patient is discharged.