Comfort in 3D: Study Finds Virtual Reality Eases Patient Anxiety

Even a simple skin procedure can make someone a little nervous. At UConn Health, a new study is helping patients find calm in an unexpected way – through virtual reality. Led by fourth-year medical student Avni Jain in partnership with dermatology chief resident Dr. Albert Zhou – the study gives patients the chance to slip […]

Fourth-year UConn medical student Avni Jain assists a dermatology patient with a virtual reality headset before his procedure. (Ryan Bernat/UConn Health)

Fourth-year UConn medical student Avni Jain assists a dermatology patient with a virtual reality headset before his procedure. (Ryan Bernat/UConn Health)

Even a simple skin procedure can make someone a little nervous. At UConn Health, a new study is helping patients find calm in an unexpected way – through virtual reality. Led by fourth-year medical student Avni Jain in partnership with dermatology chief resident Dr. Albert Zhou – the study gives patients the chance to slip on a headset and escape to peaceful 3D worlds before their procedure. And so far, those virtual getaways are helping ease a lot of pre-surgery stress.