Childbirth Journey Through Virtual Reality: Pain, Anxiety and Birth Perception: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ABSTRACT

This study determines video's effect on pregnant women's pain, anxiety, and perception of labor using virtual reality glasses during the active and transition phases of childbirth. This randomized controlled study was conducted with 60 pregnant women (30 in each group) admitted to the delivery room of a hospital. The data were collected by personal information form, visual comparison scale‐pain, visual comparison scale‐anxiety, and perception of birth scale. While there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of pre‐intervention pain measurement in the active and transition phases, post‐intervention pain measurement in the active and transition phases in the intervention group was found to be significantly lower than the control group. Anxiety measurement was also found to be significantly lower in the intervention group in the active and transition phases than in the control group after the intervention. It was determined that in the intervention group, anxiety measurements tended to decrease after the intervention compared to the pre‐intervention period, while in the control group, anxiety measurements tended to increase continuously in the active and transition phases. Perceptions of birth in the postpartum period were similar. The use of virtual reality during childbirth reduces pain and anxiety at birth but does not affect the perception of birth. The use of virtual reality interventions as a nonpharmacological method can be included in childbirth preparation training.

Trial Registration: NCT05495009