Virtual Reality: Influence on Satisfaction, Pain, and Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Colposcopy

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women and one of the leading causes of death in women worldwide. Pre-cancerous lesions (dysplasias) are detected by the screening smear test at the gynecologist's office and can thus contribute to a 100% chance of cure if they are clarified by a colposcopic examination as part of the dysplasia consultation. To detect cervical dysplasia during colposcopic examination, the effect of diluted acetic acid on the epithelium of the cervix uteri is utilized. Metaplastic epithelium and low-grade dysplasia are visually noticeable by a slight white staining. Biopsies are then taken from these areas for further diagnosis. The colposcopy itself and especially the colposcopic targeted biopsy of the cervix are painful. Virtual reality (VR) is a new method for 360° three-dimensional viewing of image content. A number of studies have shown that the use of VR can have a positive impact on the course of medical interventions. Randomized studies on the effectiveness of VR in a collective of women with colposcopically targeted biopsy of the cervix are not available according to a recent literature search (PubMed search of 12/30/2020; search terms: cervical biopsy, colposcopy, pain relief, pain control, virtual reality). In studies of our research group on colposcopy, we found increased pain scores especially in younger patients, but also in obese patients and smokers. A controlled study on the effectiveness of VR in colposcopically targeted biopsy is therefore useful. In our study, we now want to answer the question under prospective conditions whether the use of VR before the start or before the start and during colposcopy compared to no intervention leads to a significant increase in patient satisfaction and/or a reduction in pain in the context of clarification colposcopy and colposcopically targeted biopsy.

Sex

Female

Minimum age

18 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

* Written consent to participate in the study
* Clinically indicated colposcopy in case of abnormal PAP smear for detection of precancerous lesions of the cervix uteri and/or clinical abnormality of the cervix uteri (e.g. leukoplakia) with biopsy

Exclusion Criteria:

* Eye diseases (e.g., glaucoma/cataracts) that impair viewing of VR content.
* Claustrophobia/agoraphobia or epilepsy
* Patients with insufficient knowledge of the German language

• RESULTHecken JM, Halagiera P, Rehman S, Tempfer CB, Rezniczek GA. Virtual Reality for Anxiety Reduction in Women Undergoing Colposcopy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2023 Jul 1;27(3):223-229. doi: 10.1097/LGT.0000000000000745. Epub 2023 May 11. PMID 37166026