The Effect of Virtual Forest Bathing on Bariatric Surgery Patients

This study will be conducted at the General Surgery Clinic of City Hospital in Erzurum between August 2025 and April 2026 using a randomized controlled experimental design. In the power analysis, it was determined that the sample of the study should be 70 patients in total, 35 patients in each group, with a medium effect size of 0.5% according to Cohen (42), a margin of error of 0.05%, a confidence interval of 0.95%, and a 95% universe representation power. Patients will be assigned to either the experimental or control groups using a random number generator using a two-block randomization method (random.org). Given that exposure to nature through virtual reality increases physiological arousal and promotes positive mood, the study aimed to evaluate the effects of virtual forest bathing on pre- and postoperative pain, anxiety, fear, sleep, vital signs, and cortisol levels in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.