Effect of immersive virtual reality on fear, anxiety, and pain in pregnant women during vaginal examination in clinical training: a randomized controlled trial
Randomized trial demonstrates reduced fear, anxiety, and pain in pregnant women using immersive VR during vaginal examination, suggesting it enhances maternal care.
Key Points
The study investigates immersive virtual reality's effect on fear, anxiety, and pain during vaginal examinations in pregnant women.
Randomized controlled trial with 70 pregnant women in latent or active labor phase.
Participants assigned to VR intervention (n=35) or standard-care control (n=35).
Anxiety assessed using State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; pain assessed via VAS, McGill Pain Questionnaire, and fear checklist.
The VR group had significantly lower state anxiety scores (34.31 ± 9.07 vs. 45.66 ± 13.03; p < 0.001).
Pain intensity via VAS was significantly reduced in the VR group (3.43 ± 2.13 vs. 6.29 ± 2.18; p < 0.001).
The VR group showed lower scores in all dimensions of the McGill Pain Questionnaire (p < 0.05) and significantly lower fear (p < 0.001).