Last reviewed: November 2026. This guide is for general information and is not medical advice. Talk to a qualified clinician about any treatment decision.
Hospitals are testing virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to show patients what will happen to them: a walk through the operating room before surgery, or a 3D view of their own scan while a surgeon explains the plan. The best-studied question is whether this lowers anxiety before an operation. On average it does, modestly.
Key takeaways
- Anxiety before surgery: a 2025 review of 35 randomized trials found VR had a moderate effect, somewhat larger in children than in adults.
- Adults only: a smaller 2023 analysis found a small effect compared with standard care.
- Informed consent: headsets generally improved understanding and satisfaction, with the most consistent results for VR.
- Quality: reviewers on every question ask for more rigorous studies.
In this guide
How VR and AR are used to inform patients
- Exposure. The patient experiences a virtual version of the setting that worries them, such as the operating room, before facing the real one.
- Distraction. An engaging scene or game takes attention away from the wait before a procedure. This is used most with children.
- Explanation. A headset shows the patient’s own imaging in 3D while the clinician explains the condition and the planned treatment.
Anxiety before surgery
Anxiety before an operation is common and can affect recovery and satisfaction with care. A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis in the Journal of Medical Internet Research pulled together 35 randomized trials with 3,341 patients having planned surgery under anesthesia.
VR-based preparation reduced anxiety to a moderate degree, with a somewhat larger effect in children than in adults. The authors suggest children benefit especially from the distraction approach, and they add that more rigorous research is needed to confirm the findings.
A 2023 review limited to adults was more reserved. Across five studies and 466 patients, VR showed a small advantage over standard care, and the authors described the evidence as limited but growing.
Understanding and informed consent
Consent depends on patients understanding the risks and benefits of what is proposed. A 2025 systematic review in the Journal of Medical Systems examined VR, AR and mixed reality headsets used during preoperative consent discussions in several surgical specialties.
Overall the headsets had positive effects on patient understanding, satisfaction and anxiety, with more consistent findings for VR than for AR or mixed reality. The reviewers also point to uneven study quality.
Limits of the evidence
- Short-term measures: most trials measure anxiety just before surgery, not recovery or later outcomes.
- Mixed methods: devices, content and session length vary widely, which makes results hard to compare.
- AR is less studied: most of the evidence concerns VR.
- A supplement: these tools add to a conversation with the care team. They do not replace it.
Questions to ask
- Is a VR or 3D preview of my procedure available?
- Will I still have time to ask the surgeon or anesthetist my questions?
- Is it suitable for my child’s age?
Related guides: augmented and virtual reality in surgery and virtual reality in mental health treatment.
Common questions
Does VR reduce anxiety before surgery?
On average, yes, to a moderate degree. A 2025 review of 35 randomized trials found the effect was somewhat larger in children than in adults.
How is VR used to prepare patients for surgery?
Patients can walk through a virtual operating room beforehand, be distracted by a calming scene while waiting, or view their own scan in 3D while the clinician explains the plan.
Does VR help patients understand a procedure?
A 2025 review found headsets generally improved understanding and satisfaction during consent discussions, though study quality was uneven.
Sources
- Li H, et al. Effects of Virtual Reality–Based Interventions on Preoperative Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery With Anesthesia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2025.
- Mbewe AM, Smith Z. Effectiveness of virtual reality interventions to reduce pre-operative anxiety in adult surgical patients in the pre-operative period: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Perioperative Nursing, 2023.
- The Impact of Virtual-, Augmented- and Mixed Reality during Preoperative Informed Consent: A Systematic Review. Journal of Medical Systems, 2025.
