Objective

This study sought to assess the effect of reading augmented reality (AR) books on salivary cortisol levels in hospitalized pediatric patients compared to reading a standard children’s book.

Methods

This was a randomized, two-period, cross-over trial in hospitalized children aged 7–11 years. AR books currently in the market were used as intervention. Complete block randomization was used to randomize the order of the intervention. Children allocated to the ‘AR-first’ group received the book, a tablet and were left to interact independently with the technology for an hour. After a 48 -h wash-out period, children received a standard book. ‘Standard-book-first’ group received only the standard book and after wash-out received the tablet and the AR book. Salivary cortisol and a validated visual analogue scale (VAS) for psychological stress were assessed at the beginning and at the end of each intervention.

Results

A total of 29 children were recruited in the study. One was lost during follow up. Cortisol levels decreased after the AR intervention (P = 0.019). Nevertheless, the decrease was not greater than the one associated to reading the standard book. VAS scores increased after the AR intervention (P < 0.001).

Discussion

There is evidence of order and sequence effects that might explain results. First assessment of AR-based interventions on stress. Results justify further research.

Conclusions

There was no evidence that reading AR books diminished cortisol levels more than reading a standard book. AR-books improved VAS score for psychological stress compared to a standard book.

中文翻译：

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增强现实书籍对住院儿科患者唾液皮质醇水平的影响：一项随机交叉试验

客观的

这项研究旨在评估与阅读标准儿童读本相比，阅读增强现实（AR）书对住院儿科患者唾液皮质醇水平的影响。

方法

这是一项针对7-11岁住院儿童的随机，两期，交叉试验。当前市场上的AR书被用作干预手段。使用完全区组随机化对干预顺序进行随机化。分配给“ AR-first”小组的孩子们收到了这本书和一台平板电脑，并被单独与技术互动了一个小时。经过48小时的冲洗后，孩子们收到了一本标准书。“标准书本优先”小组仅收到标准书本，冲洗后收到平板电脑和AR书。在每次干预的开始和结束时均评估了唾液皮质醇和经验证的心理压力视觉模拟量表（VAS）。

结果

该研究共招募了29名儿童。一名在后续行动中丧生。AR干预后皮质醇水平降低（P = 0.019）。然而，下降幅度不大于与阅读标准书相关的下降幅度。AR干预后，VAS评分增加（P <0.001）。

讨论

有顺序和序列效应的证据可以解释结果。首先对基于AR的压力干预进行评估。结果证明有待进一步研究。

结论

没有证据表明阅读AR书籍比阅读标准书籍更能减少皮质醇水平。与标准书相比，AR书提高了心理压力的VAS评分。