Abstract: Objective To design a conductive education-based virtual reality system for inducing urination in elderly patients with lower extremity fracture to prevent postoperative urination detention, and verify its application effect and safety. Methods Adhering to the principles of being advanced, practical and safe in design, a virtual reality system for preventing postoperative induced urination in elderly patients was designed by utilizing VR technology to create a familiar environment. Personalized training plans were established with a systematic framework and functional modules by combining multi-sensory stimulation and conductive education. Elderly patients undergoing surgery for lower limb fracture in a hospital in Guangzhou were randomly divided into experimental group (n=40) and control group (n=42). The conductive education-based virtual reality system was used in the experimental group, and conventional treatment was performed in the control group. Results There were statistically significant differences in the incidence of urinary retention and residual urine volume (P<0.05), mean catheter retention days and first urination volume (P<0.05) in the two groups, and no adverse events or symptoms were reported in all patients in the experimental group. Conclusion The conductive education-based virtual reality system can effectively prevent postoperative urinary retention in older patients with lower limb fracture. The process is feasible and safe, and the system will continue to be improved and promoted in the future.

Key words: virtual reality, conductive education, postoperative urinary retention, older patient