The Effect of Using Augmented Virtual Reality on Pain, Stress, Anxiety, and Self-Efficacy among Patients with Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy in the West Bank رسالة دكتوراة

Abstract

Background: Cancer considered a serious illness often leads patients to experience emotional and psychological distress. Cancer management, including chemotherapy, can significantly impact a patient's daily functioning and quality of life, contributing to added stress and further deterioration in mental health. To overcome these negative impacts, non pharmacological interventions such as augmented reality have been employed in hospitals and clinics in recent years. Augmented reality has been found to alleviate pain and psychological symptoms for patients undergoing chemotherapy. Aim: This study examined the effect of using augmented virtual reality on pain, stress, anxiety, and self-efficacy among patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy sessions in the West Bank hospitals in Palestine. Methodology: A randomized control trial design was conducted between June and September 2023 including a pretest and posttest. The study took place at three large hospitals in north Palestine specializing in care for patients with a cancer diagnosis specifically within the chemotherapy units The sample consisted of 150 participants, with 75 in the interventional group using augmented virtual reality and 75 in the control groups treated with the usual routines care. Result: The majority of the participants 110 (73.3%) experienced breast cancer. More than half of them 79 (52.7%) have two chemotherapy sessions. There was a significant difference in mean pain score between the interventional and control groups (p< 0.05=0.001). The mean pain scores of the interventional group (M = 2.6, SD± 1.7) were lower than those of the control group (M = 4.6, SD± 2.8), there was a significant difference in general self efficacy scores mean between the interventional and control groups (p< 0.05=0.047). The mean of the general self-efficacy scores in the interventional group (M = 31.0, SD± 6.7) was higher than that in the control group (M = 28.8, SD± 6.8), there was a significant difference in the stress mean scores between the interventional and control groups (p< 0.05=0.001). The mean stress scores in the interventional group (M = 17.7, SD± 2.8) were lower than that in the control group (M = 19.2, SD± 2.5), there was a significant difference in the anxiety levels between the interventional and control groups (p< 0.05=0.001). Also, the analysis revealed that 41(54.7%) of the interventional group had minimal anxiety while only 20 (26.7%) of the control group had similar results. V Conclusion: Various strategies are available to reduce the pain, stress, and anxiety associated with cancer therapy. Using augmented virtual reality techniques through goggles has been shown to significantly decrease pain, stress, and anxiety while enhancing self efficacy among patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy sessions. Therefore, using augmented virtual reality is highly recommended and should be included in the standard of care provided to patients with cancer.