Volume 31, Issue 3 (Summer 2025)
Intern Med Today 2025, 31(3): 0-0 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Ghasimi Torshizi T, Mohammadpour A, Shareinia H, Ghanei H, Mokhtarian Deluei M. The Effect of Virtual Reality on Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. , Intern Med Today. 2025; 31 (3)
URL: http://imtj.gmu.ac.ir/article-1-4120-en.html
URL: http://imtj.gmu.ac.ir/article-1-4120-en.html
Tahmineh Ghasimi Torshizi *1 
, Ali Mohammadpour2 , Habib Shareinia3 , Hossein Ghanei4 , Mohaddeseh Mokhtarian Deluei5
, Ali Mohammadpour2 , Habib Shareinia3 , Hossein Ghanei4 , Mohaddeseh Mokhtarian Deluei5
1- Master's degree in nursing, Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran , ghasimi_tahmine@yahoo.com
2- Professor of Nursing, Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
3- Assistant Professor of Nursing, Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
4- Specialist in Internal Medicine, Shahid Modares Hospital, Kashmar, Kashmar, Iran
5- PhD Student in Nursing, School of Nursing, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
2- Professor of Nursing, Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
3- Assistant Professor of Nursing, Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
4- Specialist in Internal Medicine, Shahid Modares Hospital, Kashmar, Kashmar, Iran
5- PhD Student in Nursing, School of Nursing, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
Abstract: (26 Views)
Aims: Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is an invasive diagnostic procedure that may cause considerable anxiety in patients. Endoscopy-related anxiety may interfere with the successful completion of the procedure. Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging technology that may help reduce anxiety. This study aimed to determine the effect of VR on anxiety in patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.
Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 60 patients who presented to the Endoscopy Department of Modarres Hospital in Kashmar, Iran, in 2018. Eligible patients were recruited using purposive sampling and randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. After providing written informed consent, participants completed a demographic questionnaire, and their anxiety was assessed before and after the intervention using the State Anxiety subscale of Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The intervention involved a virtual reality headset through which participants viewed a simple, non-animated 2D video explaining the endoscopy procedure, followed by a nature video. The control group received the same routine care without the VR intervention. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 20) using the independent t-test, paired t-test, and Chi-square test at a significance level of less than 0.05.
Findings: The mean age was 41.46±12.37 years in the intervention group and 42.23±10.29 years in the control group. Before the intervention, the mean anxiety scores were 57.13±11.88 in the intervention group and 54.00±12.80 in the control group, with no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.33). After the intervention, the mean anxiety scores decreased to 44.26±11.61 in the intervention group and to 51.96±11.94 in the control group. Although anxiety scores decreased significantly from baseline in both groups (P<0.001 for both), the reduction was significantly greater in the intervention group than in the control group (mean difference: 12.86±8.53 vs. 2.03±2.41; P<0.001).
Conclusion: A VR program combining an educational video about endoscopy with relaxing nature scenes significantly reduced anxiety in patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (mean reduction: 12.86 vs. 2.03 points in the intervention and control groups, respectively; P<0.001). This non-pharmacological approach may be a practical option for reducing preprocedural anxiety and improving the patient experience in endoscopic settings.
Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 60 patients who presented to the Endoscopy Department of Modarres Hospital in Kashmar, Iran, in 2018. Eligible patients were recruited using purposive sampling and randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. After providing written informed consent, participants completed a demographic questionnaire, and their anxiety was assessed before and after the intervention using the State Anxiety subscale of Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The intervention involved a virtual reality headset through which participants viewed a simple, non-animated 2D video explaining the endoscopy procedure, followed by a nature video. The control group received the same routine care without the VR intervention. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 20) using the independent t-test, paired t-test, and Chi-square test at a significance level of less than 0.05.
Findings: The mean age was 41.46±12.37 years in the intervention group and 42.23±10.29 years in the control group. Before the intervention, the mean anxiety scores were 57.13±11.88 in the intervention group and 54.00±12.80 in the control group, with no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.33). After the intervention, the mean anxiety scores decreased to 44.26±11.61 in the intervention group and to 51.96±11.94 in the control group. Although anxiety scores decreased significantly from baseline in both groups (P<0.001 for both), the reduction was significantly greater in the intervention group than in the control group (mean difference: 12.86±8.53 vs. 2.03±2.41; P<0.001).
Conclusion: A VR program combining an educational video about endoscopy with relaxing nature scenes significantly reduced anxiety in patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (mean reduction: 12.86 vs. 2.03 points in the intervention and control groups, respectively; P<0.001). This non-pharmacological approach may be a practical option for reducing preprocedural anxiety and improving the patient experience in endoscopic settings.
Type of Study: Original |
Subject:
Internal Medicine
Received: 2024/11/19 | Accepted: 2025/03/24 | Published: 2025/05/30
Received: 2024/11/19 | Accepted: 2025/03/24 | Published: 2025/05/30
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |