Virtual reality for acute pain in outpatient hysteroscopy: a randomised controlled trial.

Abstract

To evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality as a distraction technique in the management of acute pain and anxiety during outpatient hysteroscopy. Parallel group, prospective randomised controlled trial. UK University Hospital. Forty consenting, eligible women were randomised to virtual reality intervention (immersive video content as a distraction method) or standard care during outpatient hysteroscopy from August to October 2018. Pain and anxiety outcomes were measured as a numeric rating score (scale 0-10). Compared with standard care, women with virtual reality intervention experienced less average pain (score 6.0 versus 3.7, mean difference 2.3, 95% CI 0.61-3.99, P=0.009) and anxiety (score 5.45 versus 3.3, mean difference 2.15, 95% CI 0.38-3.92, P=0.02). Virtual reality was effective in reducing pain and anxiety during outpatient hysteroscopy in a mixed-methods randomised control trial. Its wide potential role in ambulatory gynaecological procedures needs further evaluation. Virtual reality can be used as a part of a multimodal strategy to reduce acute pain and anxiety in patients undergoing outpatient hysteroscopy.