The Impact of an Educational 3D Virtual Reality Video Method on Bowel Preparation for Colonoscopy: First Results

Abstract

Objective. Adequate bowel preparation is essential for diagnostic, screening, surveillance, and therapeutic colonoscopy. 3D virtual reality (3D-VR) has the characteristics of depth, interactivity and visuality and is widely used in medicine, so it can be used for patient education and training. The aim of our study is to determine the impact of using 3D virtual reality video for patients education on bowel preparation before colonoscopy. Materials and methods. A prospective, blind, randomized clinical trial was launched at the Republican Vilnius University Hospital (RVUL) on 07.03.2021, which included 50 outpatients who had indications for colonoscopy until 28.02.2022. Patients were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups. The first group was given the bowel preparation information in the standard form used by RVUL – in writing, and the second – in a 3D virtual reality video. The content of the information provided to both groups was the same. The quality of bowel preparation was assessed based on the Boston and Ottawa bowel preparation scales. Results. Of the 50 outpatients who participated in the study, 26 were assigned to the control group, 24 to the study group. The patients of both groups were identical in terms of sex, age, body mass index, comorbidities. The mean (SD) BBPS score was statistically significantly lower in the control group compared to the 3D-VR video group (5.96(±1) vs. 7.58(±1.47); p < 0.001). The mean (SD) scores of OBPS were higher in the control group (6.58(±2.44) than in the study group 1.83(±2.32); p < 0.001). The rate of adequate bowel preparation in the 3D-VR video group was higher than in the control group (18(69.23%) vs. 23(95.83%); the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.024)). The rate of terminal ileum intubation in the control group was 50% compared to 83.33% in the 3D-VR video group (p = 0.02).The mean (SD) colonoscopy time was statistically significantly shorter in the 3D-VR video group 23.04(±3.66) minutes and 16.5(±4.28) minutes, p = <0.001. Conclusions. Patients who were informed by 3D-VR method before colonoscopy had statistically significantly better bowel preparation, as well as reduced procedure time and possibly increased detection rates of polyps and adenomas.