Effects of Virtual Museum Visit on Pain, Fatigue, and Anxiety in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

The Effects of Virtual Museum Visit With Virtual Reality Glasses on Pain, Fatigue, and Anxiety in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Symptom management is the most important aspect of clinical cancer care. Virtual reality-based interventions can be used to improve cancer patients' experiences with medical treatment, with their distraction-based effects. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of virtual museum visits with virtual reality glasses on pain, fatigue, and anxiety in patients receiving chemotherapy. The study included a museum visit with virtual reality glasses during the procedure in addition to routine treatments for patients in the intervention group. Patients in the control group were given only their routine treatments. Data will be collected using the Personal Information Form (PIF), Hirai Cancer Fatigue Scale, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Beck Anxiety Scale (BAÖ). In the first interview, the patient was also presented with virtual museum options and the museums he/she wanted to visit were listed. In addition, the patients in the Intervention Group were shown virtual museums with 53 different themes on the website prepared by the General Directorate of Information Technologies of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which is located on the website ''https://sanalmuze.gov.tr'' belonging to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the museums they wanted to visit in each session according to their preferences were listed. In the meantime, the Intervention Group was explained how to use the virtual glasses and they will be tested. One week after the first test, the patients in the Intervention Group will visit a virtual museum on the theme preferred by the patients using virtual glasses for an average of 20 minutes for a total of five consecutive weeks. In the fifth virtual tour session, which is the third and last application session, measurements (Visual Analog Scale, Hirai Cancer Fatigue Scale and Beck Anxiety Scale) will be administered. The control group will not receive any intervention other than routine treatment.The museum visit applied to the Intervention Group will also be applied to the control group after the study is completed, taking into account the ethical dimension.

Inclusion Criteria:

• The inclusion criteria of the sample were having received at least one course of chemotherapy and continuing chemotherapy
• Having not visited a virtual museum with VR glasses before,
• Having no difficulty in communicating,
• Having no mental problems, being 18 years of age or older,
• Agreeing to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• The exclusion criteria of the sample were having not received chemotherapy or having completed treatment.
• Having Stage IV cancer
• Having difficulty seeing and communicating.
• Being under the age of 18
• The desire to withdraw from the study.