Immersive Virtual Reality Improves Labor and Delivery Experience for Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of immersive Virtual Reality (VR) in laboring women on patient satisfaction as a distractive tool and pain relief.Methods: Randomized, controlled clinical trial with 42 laboring women allocated to VR intervention and control groups. Among the VR group, patient satisfaction with the use of VR was assessed by a Virtual Reality Satisfaction Survey and questioning whether they would choose VR in future labor. As a primary outcome patient satisfaction scores regarding the overall labor and delivery experience were compared between the two groups. A secondary outcome was pain assessed by a visual pain rating scale in the early and active phases of labor in both groups. Psychometric information was also collected from participants in each group using Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory. Results: We observed a high level of patient satisfaction with the use of immersive VR during labor. The survey revealed a mean satisfaction score of 89.6 ± 10.8 out of a maximum of 100. 20 out of 21 (95%) women in the VR group stated that they would like to use VR again in future labor. VR improved pain scores in early labor and contributed positively to overall labor and delivery experience. The mean pain score pre-VR was 2.6±1.2 compared to 2.0±1.3, post-VR, respectively (p<0.01). Anxiety and depression scores were similar in the intervention and control groups (p=0.103, p=0.13, respectively). Conclusion: Immersive VR application during labor was feasible and associated with higher patient satisfaction based on our study. VR also improved pain scores in early labor before epidural placement. Immersive VR may find a place as an adjunct in Labor and Delivery Units to improve the lengthy labor experience for women. Larger studies are needed to confirm these observations. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05032456 / 02/09/2021https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05032456

Patient perceptions of virtual reality for pain relief in labor: A qualitative study

“…It has demonstrated benefits in both acute (e.g., procedure-related) and chronic pain ( 4 , 5 ). We and others have previously demonstrated the effectiveness of VR in reducing pain in persons in labor ( 6 – 9 ). Our study was unique in that – unlike others – our visualization was specifically targeted towards laboring persons.…”

Використання Засобів Віртуальної Реальності Для Релаксації Вагітних Та Породіль: Результати Пілотажного Дослідження

“…Thus, the demonstration to 50 parturient women of ultrasound images of their children via VR glasses decreased the pain scores under cervical dilatation by 9 cm; reduced anxiety scores and improved the perception of therapeutic support (Akin et al, 2021). Parturient women subject to VR immersion had lower pain scores and higher satisfaction with the childbirth experience (Carus et al, 2022). A systematic review of eight randomized control studies with a total of 466 patients showed that VR performs well in pain relief, anxiety reduction, and increasing satisfaction during natural childbirth .…”

“…Так, демонстрація 50 породіллям ультразвукового зображення власної дитини за допомогою ВР-окулярів суттєво зменшила оцінки болю при розкритті шийки на 9 см; знизила показники тривоги та покращила сприйняття терапевтичної підтримки (Akin et al, 2021). Породіллі, що отримували імерсійну ВР, мали нижчі показники болю та вищу задоволеність досвідом пологів (Carus et al, 2022). Системний огляд восьми рандомізованих контрольних досліджень із загальною кількістю 466 пацієнток показав, що ВР -ефективний метод знеболювання, зниження занепокоєння та підвищення задоволеності під час природних пологів .…”

Application of Pregnant Exercise and Hypnosis Techniques As Effort to Improve Health in Pregnant Mothers Trimester III

“…The picture above shows the changes in anxiety experienced by mothers before and after doing pregnancy exercises and hypnosis techniques (Carus, Albayrak, Bildirici, & Ozmen, 2022). Previously there were 6 people who experienced severe anxiety, after receiving education and demonstration there was a change in the level of anxiety, namely the severe category to 1 person, moderate anxiety 2 people, mild anxiety 4 people, and the remaining 5 people were in the normal category.…”