Audiovisual Distraction in Intensive Care

Resuscitation patients are subject to constant stress of multifactorial origin: their state of health, the noisy environment of critical care, the multiple examinations and care provided, lack of sleep, stress from their loved ones... It is estimated that 60% of resuscitation patients have experienced stress and 40% have been anxious during their hospitalization in intensive care. This permanent anxiety is punctuated by stress peaks, particularly at the time of invasive procedures frequently performed in the ICU.

This stress is said to have a negative impact on patients' ability to recover and on their length of stay in the ICU. What's more, these anxious symptoms can persist after hospitalization, leading to post-traumatic stress disorder. It therefore seems appropriate to find solutions aimed at reducing this stress.

Medication is often used to reduce stress and anxiety. Although effective, these molecules have undesirable side-effects and can also hinder the patient's recovery.

Alternative methods are already being studied as replacement or supplementary therapies to drugs. These include music therapy, aromatherapy, hypnosis and virtual reality.

Virtual reality has been used on resuscitation patients to improve tolerance to mechanical ventilation and to the resuscitation environment in general.