Comparing Virtual Reality and Pranayama Breathing Technique on Preoperative Anxiety in Patient With Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

Abstract

This study compares the effect of virtual reality (VR) and pranayama breathing technique on preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The design was a three-arm parallel randomized controlled trial conducted across three open heart centers in Baghdad, Iraq. A sample of 122 patients were randomly assigned to VR (n = 45), pranayama (n = 40), and control (n = 37) groups. Anxiety was measured in pre- and postintervention using the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS). The results were that there were no significant differences between the two active interventions, although the largest effect size was observed in the pranayama breathing technique intervention group (η² = 0.381). Thus, both VR and pranayama breathing technique reduce preoperative anxiety among patients having CABG surgery and can be incorporated into routine preoperative nursing care.