The effect of breathing exercises using virtual reality glasses on lung capacity in cancer patients

With the application of virtual reality glasses, it is aimed to ensure the active participation of patients in the breathing exercise application and to increase the lung capacity with an effective and correct exercise application. The pretest-posttest randomized controlled experimental study was carried out between 15.09.2022 and 30.01.2023 in 30 cancer patients hospitalized in the liver transplantation and liver biliary tract surgery service of Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital. The "Informed Consent Form" was filled out for the patients who agreed to participate in the study. An "Introductory Information Form" was filled out from the patients in the experimental and control groups before the procedure. The application of each form took 5 minutes. The SpO2 and triflow ball lifting levels of the patients who accepted the study were recorded before the procedure. On the 5th postoperative day, the procedure was repeated and recorded. Virtual reality glasses were introduced to the experimental group patients and application approval was obtained. 2-3 minutes before the start of the application, the patient started to watch the video with the virtual reality glasses application and continued until the end of the ball blowing process 5 times. After the procedure, the patients were asked about their satisfaction status and recorded. On the 5th postoperative day, the procedure was repeated and recorded. Descriptive statistics, Independent Samples t-Test, Groups t-Test and Chi-square Test were used in the analysis of the data. It was determined that the mean of the Experimental SpO2 POST was significantly higher than the mean of Control SpO2 POST with 99% confidence (p=0.000<α=0.01) and the mean of the Experimental Triflow POST was significantly higher than the mean of Control Triflow POST with 99% confidence (p=0.001<α=0.01). When the PRE values of the control and experimental groups were examined, there was no significant difference in the SpO2 and Triflow comparisons. Breathing exercise with virtual reality glasses is a new and effective application. It is recommended to expand breathing exercises with virtual reality glasses and add them to patient education.