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Effect of virtual reality on labor pain, comfort, and satisfaction: A randomized controlled trial
Çiğdem Ballıkaya1, Zümrüt Bilgin1
1Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Marmara University, İstanbul, Türkiye.
Background:
Labor pain is a key factor influencing women's childbirth experience, comfort, and overall satisfaction. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a non-pharmacological intervention that may reduce labor pain and improve maternal comfort.
Aim:
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of VR on labor pain, comfort, and birth satisfaction among women undergoing vaginal delivery.
Methods:
This randomized controlled trial was conducted at a hospital in Istanbul between September 2023 and June 2024. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 40) and control (n = 40) groups using a computer-generated randomization method. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Childbirth Comfort Scale (CCS), and the Birth Satisfaction Scale (BSS). In the intervention group, in addition to routine care, a virtual reality (VR) intervention with audio-visual content was administered in three sessions, each lasting 10 min, at cervical dilatation levels of 4-5 cm, 6-7 cm, and 8-9 cm. The CCS and BSS were administered within 1-4 h postpartum. In the control group, only routine care was provided at the same cervical dilatation levels, and the same data collection tools were used. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Parametric tests, including one-way ANOVA and appropriate post hoc analyses, were performed.
Results:
The mean age of participants was 28.18 ± 4.25 years in the intervention group and 27.55 ± 3.43 years in the control group. VAS scores at cervical dilatations of 4-5, 6-7, and 8-9 cm in the intervention group (4.60 ± 1.15; 5.97 ± 1.33, and 6.75 ± 1.42, respectively) were significantly lower than those in the control group (6.08 ± 1.67; 7.78 ± 1.62, those of 8.42 ± 1.58, respectively) (p < 0.001). Birth comfort (44.20 ± 3.62) and birth satisfaction (70.45 ± 10.49) scores were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (33.95 ± 3.12 and 56.27 ± 9.41, respectively).
Conclusion:
Virtual reality is an effective non-pharmacological intervention for reducing labor pain and improving maternal comfort and birth satisfaction. Its integration into routine labor management may be recommended.
