The effect of virtual reality and music on pain, anxiety, and pain-related anxiety in burn patient care

This study was conducted with a pre-test, post-test, randomized controlled experimental design to determine the effects of virtual reality and music on pain, anxiety, and pain-related anxiety in burn patient care. Between May 2022 and May 2023, 120 patients who voluntarily applied to the Burn Unit of a City Hospital in Istanbul were selected based on power analysis. They were divided into three groups: the virtual reality group, in which patients viewed 360 degrees videos (n = 40); the music group, in which patients listened to music (n = 40); and the control group, which did not receive any intervention (n = 40). Data were collected using the "Patient Demographic Information Form," "Visual Analogue Scale," "The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory," and "The Burn Specific Pain Anxiety Scale." After obtaining ethical approval and institutional permission, data were analyzed using SPSS ( v. 26), with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. The groups were homogenous in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics and no statistically significant difference was found in pre-intervention level of pain, anxiety, and pain-related anxiety. Post-intervention, both the virtual reality and music groups showed a significant reduction in anxiety and pain-related anxiety compared to the control group (p < 0.001), and a significant decrease in pain levels was found in the virtual reality group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, virtual reality and music interventions are effective complementary therapies for managing pain, anxiety, and pain-related anxiety in burn patients and can be safely implemented within nursing practice.