Determination of the effect of virtual reality game application and autogenic relaxation on pruritus, anxiety and dermatologic life quality in hemodialysis patients

The aim of this randomized controlled study was to examine the effect of virtual reality game and autogenic relaxation interventions on pruritus, anxiety and dermatologic quality of life in patients receiving hemodialysis treatment. The study was carried out with 47 patients with three arm between 04 January 2020 and 26 February 2022 at Hacettepe University Hospital Nephrology Department Dialysis Unit and Başkent University Ümitköy and Çiğdem Dialysis Centers. The patients who met inclusion criteria were assigned to intervention and control groups with the Research Randomizer program (block randomization), taking into account hemodialysis treatment years and 5-D Itch Scale scores. Intervention group patients were taught about virtual reality (n: 15) or autogenic relaxation (n: 16) in the first week. Control group patients were taught about kidney function (n: 16). According to their intervention assignment patients played virtual reality game or did autogenic relaxation one day before the hemodialysis session, three times a week for a total of four weeks at home and they discontinued doing interventions. Data were collected face to face in the first hemodialysis session (t0) and the third session (t1) of the first week, the last session of the fifth week (t2), and the last session of the seventh week (t3). Data was collected with the 5-D Itch Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Scale, and Dermatology Quality of Life Index. Both intervention groups 5-D Itch Scale and State-Trait Anxiety scores decreased statistically significantly in the fifth and seventh week and the Dermatology Life Quality Index scores decreased statistically significant in the fifth week compared to control group. Care interventions including virtual reality game and autogenic relaxation can be recommended for clinical protocols used in pruritus symptom management in hemodialysis patients. Keywords: anxiety, autogenic relaxation, dermatological quality of life, itching, nursing, pruritus, virtual reality.