This randomized controlled pilot study aims to compare the effects of virtual reality-based preoperative education and routine preoperative education on surgical anxiety in patients undergoing lumbar disc surgery. In addition to evaluating psychological outcomes, the study will also compare psychometric anxiety assessments with a biological stress marker, salivary cortisol, to examine the relationship between subjective and physiological stress responses. Preoperative anxiety is common among surgical patients and may negatively influence both emotional well-being and physiological stress regulation. Virtual reality-based education may provide a more immersive and engaging learning experience compared to routine education, potentially reducing anxiety levels. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a virtual reality-based education group or a routine preoperative education group. Surgical anxiety will be assessed using validated psychometric measurement tools, and physiological stress response will be evaluated through salivary cortisol analysis. The study will further explore the concordance between psychometric findings and biological stress indicators. The results may contribute to the development of innovative, evidence-based nursing interventions and provide insight into the relationship between psychological and biological indicators of preoperative anxiety.
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Change in Surgical Anxiety Level (SAQ Total Score)
Timeframe: From T1 (morning of surgery, before education) to T2 (90-120 minutes before surgery, after education)
Change in Salivary Cortisol Level
Timeframe: From T1 (morning of surgery, before education) to T2 (90-120 minutes before surgery, after education)
Nurgül Arpag, Assistant Professor, PhD, RN