Prospective randomized controlled trial to evaluate effectiveness of virtual reality to decrease anxiety in office-based flexible cystoscopy patients

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of immersive VR distraction technology in alleviating anxiety and pain during flexible cystoscopy. Methods: We prospectively recruited 270 study participants who qualified for flexible cystoscopy and randomly assigned them to experimental and control groups. The experimental group consisted of 135 patients who employed a VR set during flexible cystoscopy, and the control group consisted of 135 patients who underwent the procedure without a VR set. Patient anxiety was determined quantitatively according to the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. A visual analog scale for assessing pain intensity, satisfaction, and willingness to repeat the procedure was evaluated. In addition, difference in the hemodynamic parameter was also examined. Results: The study findings demonstrated that the use of a VR set during flexible cystoscopy significantly improved the anxiety level over that of the control group (p = 0.001). Furthermore, this intervention led to a significantly increased level of satisfaction and willingness to repeat the procedure and a decrease in hemodynamic variables, specifically, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, and heart rate (p = 0.001 in each case). Nonetheless, there were no significant differences between the groups with respect to the basic characteristic data, pain intensity, or oxygen saturation. Conclusions: Based on the present study, immersive VR can measurably decrease anxiety and increase satisfaction and willingness to repeat the procedure during flexible cystoscopy. Trial registration date: 14 September 2019; number: TCTR20190914002.