The effect of patient education program supported by virtual reality goggles on outcomes of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Introduction: Virtual reality glasses, one of the new technologies of the digital world, are proposed as an alternative new approach to disease management. Objective: This study evaluated the effect of virtual reality glasses-assisted inhaler use, breathing, and airway clearance exercises on patient outcomes in patients with COPD. Method: The pre- and post-tests were designed as randomized controlled trials. The study was conducted between May 2024 and April 2025 at the Chest Diseases Outpatient Clinic of the City Hospital and Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul among patients with COPD. A total of 69 patients (VR=23, Video=23, Brochure=23) who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. The VR group underwent exercises using virtual reality goggles three times a week for six weeks. Prior to the intervention, patients completed the COPD Patient Information Form, Spirometry Test, Borg Dyspnea Scale, and Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Dyspnea Scale, St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), COPD Self-Efficacy Scale, COPD and Asthma Sleep Scale (CASIS), and Inhaler Use Skill Chart. After the intervention, the same tests and the Virtual Reality Experience Evaluation Form were used to reassess the patients. Results: The mean age of patients was 65.52±7.07, and the mean year of COPD diagnosis was 8.52±6.01. In the final test, statistically significant differences were found in the VR group in terms of FVC (p=0.013), FEV1 (p=0.016), CASIS (p=0.009), and inhaler use skills (p=0.035). Compared to pre-intervention values, the VR group showed significant improvements in mMRC and Borg scores (p<0.05), but no significant improvement in self-efficacy scores (p>0.05). Although there were significant improvements in SGRQ scores in the video and brochure group patients compared to pre-intervention levels, the highest change difference was observed in the VR group (p<0.05). Conclusion: It has been determined that exercises performed with virtual reality glasses statistically significantly reduce respiratory parameters and CASIS values, and significantly improve quality of life and inhaler use skills.