RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Implementation of virtual reality technology to decrease patients' pain and nervousness during colonoscopies: a prospective randomised controlled single-blinded trial
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 237
OP 240
DO 10.7861/clinmed.2022-0001
VO 22
IS 3
A1 Qizhi Liu
A1 Yunhua Zang
A1 Wei Zang
A1 Wenpeng Cai
A1 Weiwei Li
A1 Ya'nan Guo
A1 Cheng Xin
A1 Xiaohuang Tu
YR 2022
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/22/3/237.abstract
AB Background Improved patient satisfaction in endoscopy is worthy of study as it is an invasive and potentially uncomfortable procedure. There is growing literature on patient satisfaction assessment in endoscopy as part of improving quality assurance. This study aimed to determine whether virtual reality (VR) technology can decrease patients' pain and nervousness during colonoscopies.Methods Patients enrolled without sedation were randomly categorised into groups that watched VR (VR group; n=58) and those that did not watch VR (control group; n=59). The primary outcomes were pain score and skin conductance. Secondary endpoints included heart rate, systolic and diastolic arterial pressures, overall patient satisfaction, willingness to repeat the procedure, the difficulty of the procedure, the procedure duration, and bowel preparation.Results The median (interquartile range (IQR)) pain scores were 7 (6–8) and 5 (4–6) in the control and VR groups, respectively (p<0.001). The median (IQR) skin conductance values after colonoscope insertion were 0.660 (0.490–0.840) and 0.390 (0.280–0.600) in the control and VR groups, respectively (p<0.001). Overall, patient satisfaction was significantly improved with the use of VR, along with a significant reduction in the difficulty perceived by the endoscopist.Conclusion VR technology helped to reduce patients' pain and nervousness and to improve patients' satisfaction during colonoscopies.