Using a Virtual Reality and Communication Intervention to Reduce Pain and Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Lipoma Excision With Local Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

In this randomized controlled trial, we assessed the effects of using a virtual reality (VR) and communication intervention on pain and anxiety in patients undergoing lipoma excision under local anesthesia. We conducted the study at a large hospital in Turkey between March 15 and September 15, 2019, with 100 participants. We used a pretest and posttest design to collect data with a personal information form, the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, and the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory. The intervention group participants watched a video using a VR headset during the procedure and communicated with an investigator; the control group participants only received routine surgical treatment. The intervention had a significant effect on pain during the procedure (P < .001) and a moderate effect on anxiety 60 minutes after the procedure (P = .01). Use of VR and active communication may help reduce pain and anxiety for patients undergoing procedures performed with local anesthesia.

Effectiveness of virtual reality in reducing preoperative anxiety in adults: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…The 11 studies (Bozdoğan Yeşilot et al, 2022; Haisley et al, 2020; Keshvari et al, 2021; Morgan et al, 2021; Robertson et al, 2017; Sahin & Basak, 2020; Turrado et al, 2021; Vogt et al, 2021; Wu et al, 2018; Xue et al, 2020; Yang et al, 2019) included in the meta‐analysis were published between 2017 and 2022, representing 892 patients aged from 18 to 82 years. The studies were conducted in Australia ( n = 1), China ( n = 2), Turkey ( n = 2), UK ( n = 1), Iran ( n = 1), Spain ( n = 1), Korea ( n = 1), Germany ( n = 1) and the USA ( n = 1).…”

“…All 11 studies (Bozdoğan Yeşilot et al, 2022;Haisley et al, 2020;Keshvari et al, 2021;Morgan et al, 2021;Robertson et al, 2017;Sahin & Basak, 2020;Turrado et al, 2021;Vogt et al, 2021;Wu et al, 2018;Xue et al, 2020;Yang et al, 2019) Wu et al, 2018;Xue et al, 2020;Yang et al, 2019) were Grade B, the other two studies (Robertson et al, 2017;Vogt et al, 2021) were Grade A (Figure 2).…”

“…A total of three studies (Bozdoğan Yeşilot et al, 2022;Keshvari et al, 2021;Wu et al, 2018) reported data on preoperative diastolic pressure in adult patients, and significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups (MD = −3.42, 95% CI:…”

“…Distraction is a nondrug treatment commonly used by medical professionals to prevent and relieve anxiety in patients. The use of distractions such as music, videos, interactive programs and games can relieve patients' anxiety before surgery (Bozdoğan Yeşilot et al, 2022;Haisley et al, 2020).…”

“…Distraction is a non‐drug treatment commonly used by medical professionals to prevent and relieve anxiety in patients. The use of distractions such as music, videos, interactive programs and games can relieve patients' anxiety before surgery (Bozdoğan Yeşilot et al, 2022; Haisley et al, 2020). Exposure therapy is a kind of behavioural cognitive therapy, with the VR system, patients can be exposed to the virtual operating room before surgery, experience and adapt to the surgical environment, and may realize that the fear they imagined does not exist (Carl et al, 2019; Turrado et al, 2021).…”