The effect of cognitive behavioral techniques using virtual reality on birth pain: a randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Pain Management
• Virtual Reality Applications

Background:

• Labor pain is a significant concern for expectant mothers.
• Non-pharmacological methods are sought to complement traditional pain relief.
• Virtual reality (VR) offers immersive potential for therapeutic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of virtual reality-based cognitive behavioral techniques in mitigating birth pain.
• To compare the effectiveness of different VR interventions against standard hospital care.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind, randomized controlled trial involving 273 pregnant women in Turkey.
• Five groups were established: VR with newborn photos/music, VR with newborn photos, VR with Turkey film, music only, and routine care.
• Pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Verbal Rating Scale (VRS).

Main Results:

• All VR interventions demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in labor pain compared to routine care (p<0.05).
• VR with newborn photographs accompanied by classical music (VAS: 4.98 ± 1.69) and VR with a newborn photograph album (VAS: 4.96 ± 1.72) showed the greatest pain reduction.
• Routine hospital care resulted in the highest mean VAS score (6.38 ± 1.86).

Conclusions:

• Cognitive behavioral techniques utilizing virtual reality are effective in reducing pain during the active phase of labor.
• Visual stimuli, such as newborn photographs with classical music, appear particularly effective for pain relief.
• Midwives can integrate these VR techniques into practice to enhance the childbirth experience.