Effect of virtual reality video application on fistula puncture-associated pain in patients undergoing hemodialysis: Assessor-blinded randomized trial

Objective: To elucidate the effect of virtual reality video application on fistula puncture-associated pain in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Design: Attention controlled and assessor-blinded randomized trial. Materials and methods: Attention controlled and assessor-blinded randomized trial was conducted 28 patients at the hemodialysis center of City Hospital. The patients in the intervention group (n = 14) participated in 12 hemodialysis sessions with virtual reality video application under the researcher's supervision. The patients in the control group (n = 14) received a 6-min training session on diet compliance. The Sociodemographic Form and Visual Analog Scale were used to collect data in person at various time points: baseline (t0), during the 1st to 12th hemodialysis sessions (t1-t12), and 1 week after implementation (t13). Results: Virtual reality video application helped in effectively decreasing pain over time, as revealed by significant differences in the measurements at t1-t12 and t13 (p < 0.05). Time-based variations in within-group differences revealed that the median fistula puncture-associated pain values were significantly higher at baseline and t13 measurements in the intervention group (p < 0.05). In contrast, no significant differences were observed in the median fistula puncture-associated pain values in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In patients undergoing hemodialysis, the application of virtual reality helps decrease fistula puncture-associated pain values. Advances in technology, particularly virtual reality, may play a vital role in shaping the future of healthcare.