Augmented reality has reduced donor anxiety when donating blood

American researchers offered donors to use the augmented reality system during blood donation and concluded that it effectively reduces the level of anxiety during the procedure. The publication appeared in the journal Transfusion. Suchitra Pandey (Suchitra Pandey) from Stanford University with colleagues from different scientific institutions in the United States conducted a study based on two blood transfusion centers. It involved 282 donors aged 18 years and older. They were asked to use the Microsoft HoloLens 2 AR headset with a program developed by Abbott and American Blood Banks. In it, an avatar focuses the user's attention on selecting and planting seeds from which colorful trees and flowers grow, superimposed on the surroundings and equipment; soothing music plays in the background, with eye movements sufficient for control. Before and after the session, participants filled out questionnaires; at the end of the study, nursing staff filled out their own questionnaires.

Eighty-four percent of donors wanted to try the AR system because it was "interesting," "fun," "cool" or "something new." 69 percent of healthcare providers and 68 percent of donors found it easy to use. When the system was used, baseline anxiety, reported by 50.3 percent of participants (more likely to be female, under 20 years of age, and donating blood for the first time), was significantly reduced in 68.4 percent of them; the odds of reduction were increased 3.6 times. 54 percent of donors with anxiety expressed willingness to use the device again. Adverse events occurred in 4.6 percent of participants and were mild: vasovagal near-syncope reactions and hematomas were the most common.