Effects of virtual reality on anxiety and pain in adult patients undergoing wound-closure procedures: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background In emergency departments, suturing is a typical procedure for closing lacerated wounds but is invasive and often causes anxiety and pain. Virtual reality (VR) intervention has been reported as a relaxing measure. Objective The study aims to examine the effects of VR intervention on anxiety, pain, physiological parameters, local anesthesia requirements and satisfaction in Chinese adult patients undergoing wound closure in emergency departments in Hong Kong. Methods Adult patients who had lacerated wounds and were undergoing wound closure by suturing can communicate in Chinese and were hemodynamically stable were invited for this trial. Eighty patients were randomly assigned to the VR group, which received VR intervention and standard care, or to the control group, which received standard care only. The primary outcome was anxiety, and the secondary outcomes included pain, blood pressure, pulse rate, satisfactory with pain management, service satisfactory, and extra local analgesia requirement. Outcomes were conducted at baseline, during the procedure and 5 min after the procedure. Results The VR group had a significantly greater reduction in anxiety ( p < 0.001), pain ( p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure ( p < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure ( p < 0.001), pulse rate ( p = 0.003) and requested less amount of additional local anesthesia ( p = 0.025). The satisfactory level with pain management ( p = 0.019) and service ( p = 0.002) were significantly higher in participants who received VR intervention. In addition, most participants preferred to have VR in the future, and no major adverse events associated with the use of VR were reported. Conclusion This pilot study provides insight into the use of VR and the direction of future studies. It may effectively improve psychological and physiological outcomes in adult patients during wound-closure procedures in emergency departments.