Port Catheter Needle Insert: A Virtual Reality Application
Condition: Catheter Complications
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The study was randomized controlled to examine the effect of virtual reality (VR) application
      on pain, anxiety, and vital signs associated with port catheter needle insertion. This study
      was conducted as a parallel-group, randomized controlled intervention study. The study was
      conducted with 84 cancer patients who came to Bursa Uludağ University outpatient chemotherapy
      unit for treatment between December 2022 and May 2023 and met the inclusion criteria.
      Patients undergoing port catheterization were randomly assigned to the intervention (n=42)
      and control (n=42) groups. During the preparation stage of the port catheter injection
      attempt, the intervention group was given a calming video and music concert using virtual
      reality glasses. In the control group, no intervention was made except the routine
      application.
    

Detailed description: 
      The purpose and rationale of the study were explained to the patients who met the inclusion
      criteria. Written informed consent was obtained from the patients who agreed to participate
      in the study. Patients were assigned to the intervention and control groups by simple
      randomization. The data of the study were collected simultaneously from both groups.

      Standard care was applied to both groups during the port needle intervention procedure.
      Patients assigned to the intervention group were given standard care and VR application. The
      State Anxiety Scale was administered to the patients in both groups before the port catheter
      insertion procedure. Blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation were
      measured and vital signs were recorded in the follow-up chart. The patients in the
      intervention group were informed by the researcher about the use of VR glasses and viewing
      the images. The contents of the VR images were shown to the patients on the smartphone and
      one of the images was presented to their preferences. Afterward, the patient was seated in
      the chair where he would receive chemotherapy, and VR glasses and headgear were put on. From
      the moment the position was given, the images preferred by the patients were applied to the
      VR application, which lasted for an average of 3 minutes, through VR glasses throughout the
      procedure. After the procedure was completed, the VR glasses were removed. Then, the State
      Anxiety Inventory, one of the data collection tools, was administered to the patients again.
      Visual Analogue Scale was used to determine the pain level of the patients due to the needle
      insertion procedure for the port catheter. After the procedure was completed, the patient's
      blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation were measured again, and
      vital signs were recorded in the follow-up chart.
    

Intervention name(s): Virtual reality application
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): During the preparation stage of the port catheter injection attempt, the intervention group was given a calming video and music concert using virtual reality glasses.
With virtual reality glasses, patients watch three-dimensional video nature images, which we determined according to the patient's preference, accompanied by music. They put on the virtual reality glasses before the process started and removed them after the process was over.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care
Keywords: cancer; virtual reality; pain; anxiety; vital signs; Catheter Complications