The Effect of Virtual Reality Glasses Applied During the Episiotomy On Pain and Satisfaction: A Single Blind Randomized Controlled Study

OBJECTIVE: The research was conducted as a randomized controlled study to determine the effect of virtual reality glasses on the mother’s pain and satisfaction during episiotomy. METHODS: The sample consisted of 50 pregnant women determined by randomization among primiparous pregnant women. Data were collected with the Mother Information Form and Visual Analog Scales Pain and Satisfaction Evaluation forms. 5 mL of lidocaine was administered to mothers in the intervention and control groups during episiotomy repair. Only the mothers in the intervention group watched a video with virtual reality glasses for an average of 10 minutes during the episiotomy procedure. SPSS 22.0 was used in the analysis. RESULTS: In the comparison between the groups, it was found that the mean pain score measured during episiotomy inner and episiotomy skin suturing was statistically significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group; there was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in the mean pain scores measured before and after episiotomy repair. It was determined that the mean satisfaction score of the intervention group was higher than that of the control group. CONCLUSION: Virtual reality glasses reduced pain during episiotomy and increased satisfaction. According to the results, it is recommended to be used by midwives because it is an easily applicable non-pharmacological method and increases the mother’s birth satisfaction.