Effect of Virtual Reality Application on Pain, Anxiety and Comfort During Chest Tube Removal Procedure

Göğüs Tüpü Çıkarma İşlemi Sırasında Sanal Gerçeklik Uygulamasının Ağrı, Anksiyete ve Konfora Etkisi

Chest tubes are used to eliminate possible acute or chronic problems that may occur after trauma or surgical interventions to the chest area. This process, which aims to drain the fluid, blood or air accumulated in the pleural area, works with the support of closed underwater drainage systems. The chest tubes, which remain in place for a long time, fuse with the endothelium lying in the chest cavity. For this reason, the adhesions formed with the fusion cause very severe acute pain in the patient with the pulling force applied during removal.The high level of pain of the person will cause an increase in the level of anxiety and a decrease in the level of comfort. The anxiety experienced by the patients will also reduce the tolerance to pain.It has been observed that the use of virtual reality in the field of health significantly reduces the level of pain and anxiety during medical procedures, shortens wound healing and hospital stay, and increases compliance with treatment.In the literature, no studies were found in which the effects of virtual reality application on pain, anxiety and comfort were evaluated in patients whose chest tube was removed.Thereforee, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of virtual reality application against all these negative situations.

• Study Inclusion Criteria:

  • Must be between the ages of 18-65,
  • Must have undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery and have a chest tube,
  • Must participate in the study voluntarily,
  • Must not have vision or hearing problems,
  • Must not have disorientation in place and time,
  • Must not have any psychiatric disorders,

• Study Exclusion Criteria:

  • Those with chronic pain and routinely using painkillers,
  • Those using painkillers before the procedure,
  • Those with problems such as migraine, vertigo, dizziness,
  • Patients using prescription glasses and those having vision problems without glasses were not included in the study.