Abstract:

Objective To explore the application effect of Virtual Reality（VR） technology combined with scenario simulation health education in elderly patients undergoing painless gastroscopy. Methods A total of 180 elderly patients（≥65 years old） who underwent painless gastroscopy in a tertiary hospital in Shaanxi Province from January 2023 to October 2023 were selected by convenience sampling method. They were randomly divided into trial group and control group with 90 cases in each group. The experimental group accepted VR scene simulation health education，while the control group accepted routine health education. The anxiety scores，heart rates，blood pressures，positioning time for painless gastroscopy，first-time success rates，and doctors’ evaluations of patients’ cooperation abilities were compared between the two groups before and after the intervention. Results After the intervention，the experimental group showed lower anxiety scores，blood pressure，and positioning time for painless gastroscopy compared to the control group. Additionally，the first-time success rate for painless positioning and doctors’ evaluations of patients’ cooperation abilities were higher in the experimental group，with statistically significant differences（P<0.05）. Conclusion The method of combining VR with situational simulation health education can effectively alleviates anxiety in elderly patients，enhances their understanding of painless gastroscopy，and improves compliance with medical advice，ensuring the smooth conduct of the examination.

Key words: Virtual reality, Elderly, Painless gastroscopy, Health education, Imitation of behavior