Nonpharmacologic Pain Management Among Hospitalized Inpatients: A Randomized Waitlist-Controlled Trial of Standard...

Area of Science:

• Pain Management
• Virtual Reality Technology
• Inpatient Healthcare

Background:

• The opioid epidemic necessitates non-pharmacologic pain management alternatives.
• Virtual reality (VR) shows promise for pain reduction, but research in adult inpatient settings is limited.
• Comparative studies on different VR types (CGI vs. Video Capture) for pain are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of standard computer-generated imagery (CGI) VR against Video Capture VR for pain reduction in hospitalized patients.
• To evaluate the overall effectiveness of VR interventions compared to a waitlist control group.
• To assess patient experience and realism ratings between CGI VR and Video Capture VR.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 103 hospitalized inpatients experiencing pain.
• Participants were allocated to one of three groups: waitlist control, CGI VR, or Video Capture VR.
• Outcomes, including pain levels, mood, anxiety, and relaxation, were measured pre-treatment, post-treatment, and at follow-up.

Main Results:

• Both CGI VR and Video Capture VR significantly reduced pain by approximately 50% compared to the waitlist control (P<0.001).
• Pain reduction was sustained at follow-up.
• Video Capture VR was rated as more realistic and positive, but not significantly more effective for pain reduction than CGI VR (P=0.216).

Conclusions:

• Virtual reality (VR) is an effective non-pharmacologic strategy for reducing inpatient pain.
• Both CGI VR and Video Capture VR demonstrate comparable efficacy in pain management.
• Video Capture VR offers enhanced realism and patient experience, making it a valuable option for pain relief.