The Effect of Virtual Reality on Pain, Anxiety, Physiological Parameters, and Postspinal Headache in Patients Undergoing Spinal Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of virtual reality (VR) on pain, anxiety, physiological parameters, and postspinal headache in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia. Design: This was a randomized controlled experimental trial. Methods: The research was conducted in the operating room unit of the state hospital in Hakkari-Şemdinli District Center between May 2021 and June 2022. Data were collected using the Descriptive Information Form, visual analog scale (VAS), verbal category scale (VCS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Application Registration Form to record preoperative and postoperative oxygen saturation and heart rate. Findings: When the groups’ VAS and VCS mean scores were compared for head and incision site pain, the mean scores of headache and incision site pain in both groups were found to be significantly lower in the experimental group patients (P < .001). In addition, the difference between the groups in headache VAS and VCS mean scores at all hours was statistically significant; incision site pain VAS and VCS mean scores were significantly lower between the groups at all hours, except the 1st and 2nd hours (P < .001). While there was no significant difference in the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (SAS) pretest mean scores between the groups (P > .05), the SAS post-test mean scores of the experimental group were significantly lower (P < .05). The mean heart rate in the intraoperative and postoperative periods and the mean saturation in the postoperative period differed significantly between the groups (P < .05). The difference between the blood pressure averages before, during, and after the operation was not statistically significant in both groups (P > .05). While nausea and vomiting was significant in the experimental group only at the 2nd hour (P < .05), it was not statistically significant at the other hours (P > .05). Conclusions: VR was found to effectively reduce pain, anxiety, postspinal headache, and increase the oxygen saturation level in the postoperative period in patients who underwent spinal anesthesia. Hence, VR is an effective treatment for patients who have undergone surgery under spinal anesthesia.