Anxiety, Coronary Angiography (CAG), Pain, Virtual Reality
Conditions
Keywords
Virtual reality, Coronary Angiography, Pain Management, Anxiety, Non-pharmacological Intervention, Randomized Controlled Trial
Brief summary
This study investigated whether virtual reality (VR) can reduce pain and anxiety in patients undergoing coronary angiography. Coronary angiography is a common cardiac procedure performed under local anesthesia while patients remain awake, which can cause significant pain and anxiety. Adult patients scheduled for elective coronary angiography were randomly assigned to two groups: one group watched a nature-themed VR video during the procedure, while the control group received standard care. Pain and anxiety levels were measured before and after the procedure using validated scales. The findings of this study may help healthcare providers offer a simple, non-pharmacological method to improve patient comfort during coronary angiography.
Detailed description
Coronary angiography is one of the most frequently performed invasive cardiac diagnostic procedures. Although the procedure is performed under local anesthesia, patients remain conscious throughout, and procedural pain and anxiety are commonly reported. Non-pharmacological interventions to manage these symptoms are increasingly being explored as adjuncts to standard care. Virtual reality (VR) is an immersive technology that engages the user's visual and auditory senses, potentially distracting patients from procedural discomfort. This randomized controlled trial examined the effect of VR on pain and anxiety in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography. Patients were randomized into two groups using a sealed envelope method. The VR group watched a pre-selected nature-themed video through a VR headset throughout the procedure. The control group received standard care without any additional intervention. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and anxiety was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before and after the procedure. The study was conducted at a cardiology unit in Istanbul, Turkey, and was approved by the institutional ethics committee (Approval No: 2019-84). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to enrollment.
Interventions
DEVICEVirtual Reality Headset
Participants in the VR group wore a virtual reality headset and watched a pre-selected nature-themed video throughout the coronary angiography procedure. The VR intervention was applied in addition to standard care and was maintained for the entire duration of the procedure.
Sponsors
Koç University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Aged 18 years or older * Scheduled for elective coronary angiography * Conscious and oriented * Able to communicate verbally * No prior coronary angiography experience * Willing to participate and provided written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* History of psychiatric disorder or use of psychiatric medication * Visual or hearing impairment that would prevent VR use * Hemodynamic instability * Emergency coronary angiography * Inability to complete the questionnaires * Prior experience with virtual reality
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pain Intensity Measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) | Measured before and immediately after the coronary angiography procedure | Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 10-cm horizontal scale where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| State-Trait Anxiety Level Measured by State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) | Measured before and immediately after the coronary angiography procedure | Anxiety was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), which measures state anxiety (STAI-S) and trait anxiety (STAI-T). State anxiety reflects current anxiety levels, while trait anxiety reflects general anxiety disposition. Higher scores indicate greater anxiety. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed