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Virtual Reality in Labor Pain Management: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Maria do Carmo Gamboa Correia1, Carla Maria Ribeiro da Silva Teles1, Rosa Maria Pereira Vilarinho Assunção1
1Local Health Unit of Matosinhos (ULSM), Department of Maternal and Child Health, Labor and Delivery Unit, Porto, Portugal.
Summary
Virtual reality (VR) effectively reduced labor pain during use in a clinical trial. However, the pain relief was not sustained after the intervention concluded, indicating a need for further development.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pain Management
- Virtual Reality Applications
Background:
- Investigating non-pharmacological pain relief methods during labor.
- Assessing the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) as a therapeutic tool.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of VR on pain reduction in women during childbirth.
- To determine the sustained effects of VR pain management post-intervention.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a randomized, controlled clinical trial involving 61 pregnant women.
- Compared pain intensity between a VR intervention group and a control group.
Main Results:
- VR significantly reduced pain intensity during labor while in use.
- Pain reduction was not significantly sustained 30 minutes after VR intervention cessation.
Conclusions:
- Virtual reality is an effective, non-pharmacological method for immediate pain relief during labor.
- Sustained pain reduction effects of VR require further investigation and technological enhancement for obstetric contexts.
