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Updated: Aug 1, 2025
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Virtual Reality Experiments with Physiological Measures
Published on: August 29, 2018
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Virtual Reality Experience during Labour (VIREL); a qualitative study
A Musters1, A S Vandevenne2, A Franx3
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zuyderland Medical Centre, P.O. Box 4446, Heerlen, 6401 CX, The Netherlands. a.musters@zuyderland.nl.
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
|April 24, 2023
Summary
Virtual reality (VR) significantly reduced labor pain by 19-26% in women, with most preferring guided meditation. This study highlights VR as a promising non-pharmacological tool for pain management during childbirth.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pain Management
- Virtual Reality Technology
Background:
- Growing evidence supports virtual reality (VR) for reducing labor pain.
- VR offers an alternative to pharmacological pain management, potentially minimizing side effects.
- This study investigates women's experiences and satisfaction with VR during labor.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine women's experiences with VR during labor.
- To assess women's preferences between VR meditation and VR games.
- To evaluate VR's effectiveness in reducing labor pain.
Main Methods:
- A qualitative interview study was conducted in the Netherlands.
- Two VR applications (guided meditation, interactive game) were tested.
- Pain reduction was measured using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) before and after VR use.
Main Results:
- Twenty-four women participated; 12 underwent semi-structured interviews.
- VR meditation led to a significant 26% decrease in mean NRS pain scores (p < 0.001).
- VR games resulted in a significant 19% decrease in mean NRS pain scores (p = 0.001).
Conclusions:
- All participants reported high satisfaction with VR during labor.
- Women preferred guided meditation over the interactive VR game.
- VR shows potential as a novel non-pharmacological method for managing labor pain.
