The effect of virtual reality glasses on the pain during burn dressing

Object: The study was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental study in order to determine the effect of virtual reality glasses app on pain during burn dressing in inpatient and outpatient patients in the burn unit. Method: The research was carried out in the Burn Unit of Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital between July and August 2021. The population of the study consists of all patients who received outpatient or inpatient treatment in the burn unit. The sample of the study consisted 30 test group and 30 control group patients. The patients in the test group watched a relaxing video with virtual reality glasses during the process of burn dressing. When the dressing was finished, the pain levels of the patients during the procedure were evaluated. Data were evaluated by means of chi-square test, frequency percentage distribution, Shapiro Wilk test, Independent Sample t test and Mann Whitney U test. Findings: The patient rated his/her pain severity during dressing on a numerical pain scale of 1 to 10. Accordingly, the pain scale mean score of the test group (4.17±1.60) was found to be significantly lower than the mean score of the control group (6.17±1.58) (p<0.05). The rate of those who said that watching videos through virtual glasses during burn dressing was effective and helpful to reduce their stress was 73.3%, the ratio of those who said that watching videos through virtual glasses during burn dressing distracted their attention to elsewhere was 76.7% those who liked and pleased with the method of watching videos through virtual reality app was 80%, while 70% said that the video they watched was motivating and helped them feel less pain, and 70% said that this method was suitable for reducing their pain and stress. Conclusion and Recommendations: It has been determined that the use of virtual reality glasses during burn dressing, which is a very painful procedure, reduced patients' pain, increased patient satisfaction and reduced their stress. It is recommended that the application be started to be used on a regular basis in the burn unit.