Mp47-10 Seeing Vasectomy Through a Different Lens: Utilizing Virtual Reality to Enhance Vasectomy Comfort and Reduce Anxiety in Single-Center, Randomized, Open-Label Clinical Trial

You have accessJournal of UrologySexual Function/Dysfunction: Medical, Hormonal & Non-surgical Therapy I (MP47)1 May 2024MP47-10 SEEING VASECTOMY THROUGH A DIFFERENT LENS: UTILIZING VIRTUAL REALITY TO ENHANCE VASECTOMY COMFORT AND REDUCE ANXIETY IN SINGLE-CENTER, RANDOMIZED, OPEN-LABEL CLINICAL TRIAL Jason Codrington, Farhan Qureshi, Aymara Evans, Farah Rahman, Max Sandler, Ranjith Ramasamy, and Nicholas A. Deebel Jason CodringtonJason Codrington , Farhan QureshiFarhan Qureshi , Aymara EvansAymara Evans , Farah RahmanFarah Rahman , Max SandlerMax Sandler , Ranjith RamasamyRanjith Ramasamy , and Nicholas A. DeebelNicholas A. Deebel View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/01.JU.0001008880.11564.10.10AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Vasectomy is a widely practiced method for male sterilization, performed around 33 million times globally each year. While generally safe, concerns about pain and anxiety can deter potential patients from an in-office procedure. Research on VR headsets during vasectomy is limited. In an ongoing single-center, randomized clinical trial, we present interim data on the SmileyScope VR device's effectiveness in reducing anxiety and pain during in-office vasectomy under local anesthesia. The main objective of this study is to assess how virtual reality (VR) devices can reduce anxiety and pain during in-office vasectomy under local anesthesia. Additionally, we aim to compare the effectiveness of interactive VR, where patients can control the experience, with static VR, which lacks patient control. METHODS: Patients scheduled for in-office vasectomy with a single urologist at the University of Miami were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the control group receiving standard in-office vasectomy without a VR headset, the static VR intervention group, or the interactive VR intervention group. The primary outcome measures included patient-reported pain and anxiety levels before and after the procedure, along with heart rate measurements recorded utilizing a FitBit Versa 3 wearable device. RESULTS: Interim analysis of this ongoing study includes data from a total of 107 men. 37 men were in the control group, 34 in the static VR arm, and 36 in the interactive VR arm. There was no observed difference in subjective pain scores (p=0.2354), pre-procedure anxiety (p=0.2105), or heart rate variability during the procedure (p=0.0663). CONCLUSIONS: Initial results from our ongoing randomized clinical trial indicate that although the use of VR headsets during in-office vasectomy is safe and feasible, there is no statistically significant difference in pre-procedure anxiety, heart rate variability or subjective pain. Download PPT Source of Funding: This trial was supported by the National Institutes of Health National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) grant R01DK130991-0. The sponsor has no direct role in the study. Virtual Reality Headsets were provided by SmileyScopeTM © 2024 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 211Issue 5SMay 2024Page: e766 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2024 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.Metrics Author Information Jason Codrington More articles by this author Farhan Qureshi More articles by this author Aymara Evans More articles by this author Farah Rahman More articles by this author Max Sandler More articles by this author Ranjith Ramasamy More articles by this author Nicholas A. Deebel More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...