The effect of virtual reality glasses used during inhaler treatment on anxiety, fear and vital signs in children: a randomized controlled trial

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This study aimed to determine the effect of virtual reality (VR) glasses used during inhaler treatment on anxiety, fear and vital signs in children. The study had an experimental, randomized controlled design. Participants were assigned to groups using a lottery method based on simple randomization. The random sequence was generated by physically mixing up 30 red (experimental) and 30 white (control) cards. All the data were collected and finalized by two trained researchers (Yasemin Özyer Güvener, a nurse researcher, and Şeyma Şimşirgil Kara, a pediatrician). Participants were recruited using a convenience sampling method from among individuals who met the inclusion criteria. In terms of baseline measurements, the experimental group had significantly higher mean pulse rate, fear scores, and anxiety scores (130.23 ± 14.64, 2.77 ± 1.25, and 4.60 ± 2.04, respectively) compared to the control group (118.83 ± 17.10, 2.07 ± 1.26, and 2.80 ± 2.07, respectively) (p = 0.007, p = 0.035, and p = 0.001, respectively). For post-intervention measurements, the experimental group had significantly lower mean fear and anxiety scores (0.443 ± 0.16 and 0.703 ± 0.22, respectively) compared to the control group (2.39 ± 0.16 and 3.197 ± 0.22, respectively) (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: It was determined that VR glasses reduced anxiety and fear, increased oxygen saturation, and reduced respiratory and pulse rates. They can thus be used as an alternative method to reduce fear and anxiety levels and balance vital signs during inhalation therapy in children. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Virtual reality (VR) is an effective non-pharmacological method for reducing pain, anxiety, and fear in pediatric patients during various medical procedures. • VR applications create a sense of presence in a virtual world, limiting the impact of anxiety and fear in clinical settings. WHAT IS NEW: • Using VR glasses during the administration of inhaled medication significantly reduces anxiety and fear levels in children compared to traditional methods. • While evidence for VR use during inhalation therapy was previously limited, this study demonstrates its effectiveness as a promising alternative to improve treatment compliance and physiological responses in pediatric patients.