Introduction: In order to manage
labor pain, one of the non-pharmacological approaches is immersive virtual
reality (VR). This study aimed to evaluate the impact
of immersive VR analgesia on labor pain, anxiety and nausea in nulliparous women.
Methods: In this interventional
study, 52 nulliparous women with a single fetus who expected vaginal delivery
were randomly assigned to a VR group (n = 26) and a control group (n = 26). 4
women excluded from the study due to the desire for medical intervention for pain
control. A simulated environment (containing nature scenes and sounds) was
presented to the women in the VR group. Pain intensity, anxiety, and nausea were
measured using a questionnaire. The two groups were compared in terms of
cognitive pain, sensory pain, affective pain, anxiety, and nausea.
Results: There was a statically
significant decrease of cognitive pain during the first stage of labor in the VR
intervention group compared to the control group (P = 0.013), whereas in
the second stage of labor it was not significant (P = 0.55). There was
no significant difference between the two groups in terms of affective pain.
Also, sensory pain was significantly decreased only in the first stage of labor
in the VR group compared to the control group (P = 0.033). Mothers in
the intervention group had a lower level of anxiety compared with those in the
control group (P
