The Effect of Virtual Reality Application on Pain Due to Fistula Puncture in Hemodialysis Patients

The Effect of Virtual Reality Application on Fistula Puncture Associated Pain in Hemodialysis Patients

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of virtual reality application on fistula puncture-related pain (FPi-A) in hemodialysis patients.

Hypotheses of the Research:

H0-1: Virtual reality application has an effect on fistula puncture-related pain in HD patients.

H1-2: Virtual reality application has no effect on fistula puncture-related pain in HD patients.

In the study, virtual reality will be applied in the fistula puncture procedure in patients receiving hemodialysis treatment.

• Demographic/medical data will initially be recorded prior to fistula puncture.
• The patient will be prepared for the virtual reality application and fistula puncture and will be given a comfortable sitting position.
• Virtual reality glasses will be put on the patient 6 minutes before the fistula puncture and the application will be started.
• The patient will continue to monitor the virtual reality application during the fistula puncture procedure. It will be ensured that no communication with the patient is made until the application is finished.
• The application will be ended with the fixation of the needle on the fistula after the fistula puncture procedure.

Inclusion Criteria:

• No diagnosis of neuropathic pain
• No sedatives, analgesics and sedatives are applied 3 hours before the application.
• Not taking recently taken antipsychotic drugs and tranquilizers,
• Deaf and visually impaired (to mark VAS pain)
• Without cognitive and psychiatric diagnosis
• Open to communication and cooperation
• Patients who agreed to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Kidney transplant
• Discomfort due to virtual reality glasses
• Suspected/diagnosed COVID-19
• Patients who want to leave the study voluntarily
• Death
• Multiple fistula puncture attempts