Virtual reality for acute pain in outpatient hysteroscopy: a randomised controlled trial
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Authors
Colleges, School and Institutes
External organisations
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Queen Mary, University of London
- Centre for Immunobiology and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Dentistry, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK.
- Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality as a distraction technique in the management of acute pain and anxiety during outpatient hysteroscopy.
DESIGN: Parallel group, prospective randomised controlled trial.
SETTING: UK University Hospital.
METHODS: Forty consenting, eligible women were randomised to virtual reality intervention (immersive video content as a distraction method) or standard care during outpatient hysteroscopy from August to October 2018.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain and anxiety outcomes were measured as a numeric rating score (scale 0-10).
RESULTS: Compared with standard care, women with virtual reality intervention experienced less average pain (score 6.0 versus 3.7, mean difference 2.3, 95% CI 0.61-3.99, P = 0.009) and anxiety (score 5.45 versus 3.3, mean difference 2.15, 95% CI 0.38-3.92, P = 0.02).
CONCLUSION: Virtual reality was effective in reducing pain and anxiety during outpatient hysteroscopy in a mixed-methods randomised control trial. Its wide potential role in ambulatory gynaecological procedures needs further evaluation.
TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Virtual reality can be used as a part of a multimodal strategy to reduce acute pain and anxiety in patients undergoing outpatient hysteroscopy.
Bibliographic note
Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 23 Jun 2020 |