Prospective randomized controlled trial to evaluate effectiveness of virtual reality to decrease anxiety in office-based flexible cystoscopy patients

Purpose To evaluate the effectiveness of immersive VR distraction technology in alleviating anxiety and pain during flexible cystoscopy. Methods We prospectively recruited 270 study participants who qualified for flexible cystoscopy and randomly assigned them to experimental and control groups. The experimental group consisted of 135 patients who employed a VR set during flexible cystoscopy, and the control group consisted of 135 patients who underwent the procedure without a VR set. Patient anxiety was determined quantitatively according to the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. A visual analog scale for assessing pain intensity, satisfaction, and willingness to repeat the procedure was evaluated. In addition, difference in the hemodynamic parameter was also examined. Results The study findings demonstrated that the use of a VR set during flexible cystoscopy significantly improved the anxiety level over that of the control group ( p = 0.001). Furthermore, this intervention led to a significantly increased level of satisfaction and willingness to repeat the procedure and a decrease in hemodynamic variables, specifically, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, and heart rate ( p = 0.001 in each case). Nonetheless, there were no significant differences between the groups with respect to the basic characteristic data, pain intensity, or oxygen saturation. Conclusions Based on the present study, immersive VR can measurably decrease anxiety and increase satisfaction and willingness to repeat the procedure during flexible cystoscopy. Trial registration date 14 September 2019; number: TCTR20190914002.