Reducing Preoperative Anxiety through a Combination of Virtual Reality and Benson Relaxation: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Background: Anxiety before surgery is common and may disturb physiological stability and recovery. Because sedative drugs can cause side effects, safe non-pharmacological strategies are needed. Virtual Reality provides immersive distraction, while Benson relaxation promotes a calming response through controlled breathing. Purpose: To determine whether combining Virtual Reality and Benson relaxation reduces anxiety in patients awaiting elective surgery. Methods: The research followed a quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-intervention assessments and a comparison group without random allocation. A total of 44 patients were recruited using purposive sampling. Of these, 22 received a combined Virtual Reality and Benson relaxation session, while the remaining 22 underwent standard preoperative care. Participants’ anxiety was measured prior to the intervention and again afterward using the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS). Results: Anxiety decreased more in the intervention group. Posttest scores averaged 14.18 ± 4.594 versus 17.91 ± 4.587 in controls, with a mean difference of −3.727 (95% CI: −6.521 to −0.934; p = 0.010). Conclusion: The combined intervention was more effective than standard care in lowering preoperative anxiety. Implications for Nursing: Nurses may apply this approach to improve emotional comfort and readiness for surgery. Keywords: Benson Relaxation, Preoperative Anxiety, Nursing intervention, Virtual reality