The effect of immersive virtual reality and music on anxiety, fear, and pain during circumcision surgery in children: a randomized controlled study

Aims: Circumcision is a surgical procedure that causes pain, anxiety, and fear in children. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (IVR) and music on anxiety, fear, and pain levels of children during circumcision surgery. Methods: This randomized controlled trial included boys aged 6-8 years who were circumcised at a university hospital between September 2022 and July 2023. Using stratified block randomization, the sample group’s children were split into three groups: music (n=24), IVR (n=24), and control group (n=24). The Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale, the Children’s Anxiety Meter Scale, the Children’s Fear Scale, and a Participant Information Form were used to gather the data. Descriptive statistics, t tests, analysis of variance and Duncan and Bonferroni adjustments were used to examine the data. Results: Children in the IVR and music groups experienced much less worry and dread during and after circumcision than those in the control group. The mean pain scores of the experimental groups during and after circumcision were significantly lower than those of the control group. Fear, anxiety, and pain levels were significantly different in the IVR group compared to the other groups (p