Immersive Virtual Reality Exposure for Reducing Preoperative Anxiety in Children

In a joint project involving the Department of Computing of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Department of Computer science Center for Innovative Applications of Internet and Multimedia Technologies of the City University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Children's Hospital (HKCH), an immersive VR operating theatre tour will be designed as part of preoperative education for participants. A simulation of the perioperative journey in HKCH operating theatre will be created to help participants form realistic expectations of their perioperative journey, and virtual exposure of different medical equipment helps participants cope with their worries for the anticipated procedures. Parents/legal guardians will be able to monitor the VR experience on tablets via the monitoring software, which displays what the participants see in VR.