EP24.37: Virtual reality for alleviating pain and anxiety during transvaginal sonography for endometriosis: a prospective randomised controlled study

M. Zajicek, Jazayeri Shoushtari Seyed Mostafa, Raz Bahar, Yechiel Z. Burke, Shai E. Elizur, Shlomo B Cohen, Eran Kassif, Boaz Weisz, Alexander Volodarsky‐Perel, E Berkowitz
In: Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology · 2024 · vol. 64(S1) , pp. 354 · doi:10.1002/uog.29043 · PMID:39248987 · W4402358816
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This prospective randomized controlled study of women undergoing transvaginal sonography for endometriosis found that virtual reality significantly reduced pain and anxiety compared to conventional examination, with fewer participants requiring pre-procedure analgesics.

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This prospective randomized controlled study evaluated the efficacy of virtual reality in reducing pain and anxiety during transvaginal sonography for endometriosis. Fifty-five women were assigned to either VR-assisted or conventional ultrasound, with outcomes measured using numeric pain ratings and state anxiety inventories before and after the procedure. The results indicated that participants in the VR group experienced significantly greater improvements in both pain and anxiety scores compared to the control group, while also requiring less pre-procedural analgesic use. Larger studies are recommended to establish virtual reality as a standard tool for managing discomfort during these examinations. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — specifically focusing on improving patient comfort during diagnostic imaging procedures for the condition.

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Abstract

To evaluate the efficacy of VR for alleviating pain and anxiety in patients undergoing transvaginal sonography (TVS) for endometriosis. This was a prospective randomised controlled study, carried out at a single tertiary center between December 2023 and March 2024. Women who were scheduled for TVS for endometriosis, were randomly assigned for VR-assisted or conventional TVS. Pain and anxiety were assessed before and immediately after TVS using 1-10 numeric pain rating scale, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-s) questioner. Primary outcomes were changes in pain and anxiety scores. Fifty-five women were enrolled to the study, 32 were assigned to VR-assisted and 23 to conventional TVS. Some of the participants independently took analgesics before the examination. The proportion of women who took analgesics prior to TVS was significantly lower in the VR-assisted group compared to conventional TVS group (12.5% vs. 52.2%, P=0.01). Other baseline parameters did not differ between the groups. The changes of pain and anxiety scores are presented in table 1. This study confirms the effectiveness of VR in reducing pain and anxiety during TVS for endometriosis. VR users experienced greater improvements in scores despite using less analgesics, highlighting the benefits of VR. Larger studies are needed to establish VR as standard tool for the management of pain and anxiety during TVS for endometriosis. VR-assisted (n = 32)
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Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy of VR for alleviating pain and anxiety in patients undergoing transvaginal sonography (TVS) for endometriosis.

Methods

This was a prospective randomised controlled study, carried out at a single tertiary center between December 2023 and March 2024. Women who were scheduled for TVS for endometriosis, were randomly assigned for VR-assisted or conventional TVS. Pain and anxiety were assessed before and immediately after TVS using 1-10 numeric pain rating scale, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-s) questioner. Primary outcomes were changes in pain and anxiety scores.

Results

Fifty-five women were enrolled to the study, 32 were assigned to VR-assisted and 23 to conventional TVS. Some of the participants independently took analgesics before the examination. The proportion of women who took analgesics prior to TVS was significantly lower in the VR-assisted group compared to conventional TVS group (12.5% vs. 52.2%, P=0.01). Other baseline parameters did not differ between the groups. The changes of pain and anxiety scores are presented in table 1.

Conclusions

This study confirms the effectiveness of VR in reducing pain and anxiety during TVS for endometriosis. VR users experienced greater improvements in scores despite using less analgesics, highlighting the benefits of VR. Larger studies are needed to establish VR as standard tool for the management of pain and anxiety during TVS for endometriosis. EP24.37: Table 1. Pain and STAI-s scores in women undergoing TVS for endometriosis with and without VR | VR-assisted (n = 32) | Conventional TVS (n = 23) | P-value | | |---|---|---|---| | Pain score before VR (mean score | 4.1 ± 3.6 | 5.4 ± 3.3 | 0.19 | | STAI-s before VR (mean score) | 44.0 ± 11.1 | 43.6 ± 12.3 | 0.90 | | Pain score after VR (mean score) | 3.7 ± 2.9 | 5.4 ± 3.3 | 0.03 | | STAI-s after VR (mean score) | 37.0 ± 10.8 | 43.4 ± 13.5 | 0.04 | | Pain score improvement [n (%)] | 21 (65.6) | 3 (13.0) | 0.0001 | | STAI-s improvement [n (%)] | 27 (84.4) | 8 (34.8) | 0.0002 | | Satisfaction from VR [n (%)] | 26 (81.3) | || | Willing to undergo VR again [n (%)] | 27 (84.4) |

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