Video games calm kids before dental surgery, study finds

This study tested whether an immersive game experience (role-playing, parent-child games, and rewards) could reduce anxiety and improve cooperation in 40 children aged 4-12 who needed extra teeth removed under general anesthesia. Children were randomly assigned to standard care or standard care plus the game. Researchers measured anxiety through questionnaires, heart rate, and stress hormones. The goal was to see if the game made the preoperative experience less stressful and more positive for children and their parents.