The Effect of Virtual Reality on Chemotherapy-Associated Stress (Cortisol Value), Anxiety, and Pain Symptoms of Mastectomy Patients: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.

Background: Pain, anxiety, and stress are the most common symptoms experienced by patients receiving chemotherapy after breast surgery. Virtual reality (VR) can be used as a method to manage these symptoms.

Objective: To determine the effect of VR on chemotherapy-associated stress (salivary cortisol value), anxiety, pain, and vital signs of mastectomy patients.

Methods: A total of 62 participants were enrolled in this randomized, 2-group design. Participants in the experimental group watched videos with VR glasses during their chemotherapy treatments. Saliva samples were collected from participants in both the control and experimental groups before and immediately after their chemotherapy treatments. The Personal Information Form, state anxiety component of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, visual analog scale, and the patients' vital signs were also collected.

Results: The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory state anxiety component and visual analog scale scores and the stress value mean scores differed significantly between the 2 groups at the second data point. There was also a statistically significant decrease in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure after chemotherapy in the experimental group.

Conclusion: The use of VR in women receiving chemotherapy significantly reduced their pain, anxiety, stress and blood pressure from before to immediately following the chemotherapy infusion.

Implications for practice: VR can be an appropriate intervention to reduce pain, anxiety, and stress in patients receiving chemotherapy after mastectomy.