The effect of virtual reality distraction on haemodialysis patients' pain and anxiety during arteriovenous fistula puncture: a randomised controlled trial

Mohamed Eh Elzeky; Basma Salameh; Fadia Ahmed Abdelkader Reshia; Alaa A Sabry; Noha Fm Shahine; Eman A Mohamed

doi:10.1177/17449871241252005

The effect of virtual reality distraction on haemodialysis patients' pain and anxiety during arteriovenous fistula puncture: a randomised controlled trial

J Res Nurs. 2024 Sep;29(6):421-434. doi: 10.1177/17449871241252005. Epub 2024 Sep 9.

Authors

Mohamed Eh Elzeky^{1

2}, Basma Salameh³, Fadia Ahmed Abdelkader Reshia^{4

5}, Alaa A Sabry⁶, Noha Fm Shahine⁷, Eman A Mohamed⁸

Affiliations

¹ Assistant Professor, Medical-Surgical Nursing Department, College of Nursing, Jouf University, Sakāka, Saudi Arabia.
² Lecturer, Medical-Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
³ Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Department of Nursing, Arab American University, Jenin, Palestine.
⁴ Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, Medical-Surgical Nursing Department, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Assistant Professor, Critical Care and Emergency Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
⁶ Professor, Mansoura Nephrology and Dialysis Unit (MNDU), Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
⁷ Lecturer, Gerontological Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
⁸ Assistant Professor, Medical-Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.

PMID: 39512631
PMCID: PMC11539160 (available on 2025-09-01)
DOI: 10.1177/17449871241252005

Abstract

Background: Pain and anxiety during arteriovenous fistula (AVF) puncture are crucial factors affecting haemodialysis (HD) patients' quality of life.

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the effect of virtual reality (VR) distraction on pain, anxiety, satisfaction and haemodynamics during AVF puncture.

Methods: This randomised controlled trial study was conducted in a Haemodialysis unit at Mansoura University Hospital. Ninety-six patients were randomly divided into the intervention (n = 48) and control (n = 48) groups. Six minutes prior to the puncture, patients in the intervention group used VR glasses to experience a 360° 'Relax River VR tour', whereas patients in the control group received no intervention.

Results: Following the intervention, pain, anxiety, systolic blood pressure and heart rate were significantly lower, and satisfaction scores were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: VR distraction may help alleviate pain, anxiety and increase satisfaction. It may be considered a safe and cost-effective non-pharmacological therapy for HD patients undergoing AVF puncture.

Keywords: anxiety; arteriovenous fistula; pain; virtual reality.