Background Previous research on ambulatory care pathways has highlighted recurring issues such as elevated patient anxiety, disorientation, and insufficient access to information, all of which negatively affect the patient experience. However, evidence remains limited regarding the effectiveness of different preparatory media in mitigating these issues in real-world clinical settings.
Objectives The present study aims to assess whether viewing a video of an outpatient ophthalmologic care pathway prior to the day of surgery-either as a standard 2D video or as a 360° immersive video experienced in virtual reality (VR)-reduces patient anxiety and disorientation compared with a control condition without media support. In addition, the study aims to determine which medium is most effective and to explore methods for assessing anxiety, orientation, and information in ecological clinical settings.