Examining the effects of virtual reality on anxiety and stress reduction in patients undergoing hemodialysis: a pre-post interventional study

Patients undergoing hemodialysis face many psychological and emotional challenges that affect their quality of life. Anxiety and stress are common problems among these patients, caused by frequent treatment sessions and an unfamiliar medical environment. Virtual reality is an innovative solution that can help reduce psychological stress and increase patients' sense of calm by providing immersive experiences. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effect of virtual reality on reducing anxiety and stress in patients undergoing hemodialysis to help improve their quality of life. This pre-post interventional study was conducted on 32 patients undergoing their first hemodialysis session at hemodialysis centers in Mashhad, Iran. A virtual reality film was created to address the anxiety and stress experienced by these patients. Their anxiety levels were assessed before hemodialysis using the DASS-21 questionnaire. Afterward, they watched the virtual reality film through a headset, and their anxiety and stress levels were reassessed using the same questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 24, incorporating statistical tests like the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, paired t test, and Pearson correlation. The analysis showed a strong positive correlation between the levels of anxiety before and after the intervention (p = 0.000, r = 0.651, n = 32), with a significant decrease in the mean and standard deviation of anxiety levels from 24.12 (6.81) to 8.56 (4.49) after the intervention. Similarly, a moderate positive correlation was found between the levels of stress before and after the intervention (p = 0.048, r = 0.327, n = 32), with a significant decrease in the mean and standard deviation of stress levels from 28.31 (6.427) to 10.62 (4.14) after the intervention. The results of this study demonstrated that virtual reality significantly reduces stress and anxiety in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Therefore, it is recommended that healthcare centers incorporate this tool into their programs. Integrating this technology into the treatment process can serve as an innovative strategy for managing anxiety in patients undergoing hemodialysis and enhancing the quality of healthcare.