The effect of virtual reality application on stress and anxiety levels before cesarean section

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the effect of virtual reality application on stress and anxiety levels in women in the preoperative period. Material and Method: The study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial with 154 women (77 treatment, 77 control) who were hospitalized for cesarean delivery between April 2022 and September 2022 in the obstetrics ward of Malatya Private Gözde Akademi Hospital. After hospitalization, the women in the treatment group were shown soothing and relaxing videos twice with virtual reality goggles by the researcher, each lasting 20 minutes with a 10-minute interval. No intervention was applied to the control group by the researcher except for the routine care of the hospital. Data were collected using the İntroductory Information Form, Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale (TPDS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and vital signs. Results: It was determined that the stress and anxiety levels evaluated by TPDS and STAI decreased significantly in the treatment group after the intervention, while the stress and anxiety levels increased in the control group without intervention; there was a statistically significant difference between the stress and anxiety levels of the women in the treatment and control groups (p<0.001). In addition, pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and respiratory rate of the treatment and control groups showed a statistically significant difference between the groups (p<0.05) in the post-intervention vital signs measurements. Conclusion: It was determined that virtual reality applied to women before cesarean section reduced stress and anxiety levels. It can be suggested that virtual reality applications can be used to reduce stress and anxiety levels before cesarean section. Keywords: Cesarean delivery, stress, anxiety, virtual reality application