Comparison of the effectiveness of virtual reality and chewing mint gum on labor pain and anxiety: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: Childbirth pain and anxiety are often unnatural, as opposed to being one of the most practical ways to use non-pharmacological methods. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of virtual reality and chewing mint gum on childbirth pain and anxiety. METHODS: This is a single-blind, three-group clinical trial study on 93 mothers referred to Allameh Bohlool Gonabadi and Sajjadieh Torbate Jam Hospitals for natural childbirth in 2018–2019. Subjects were randomly divided into three groups of chewing gum, virtual reality, and control using six blocks. Chewing gum interventions in one group and virtual reality in the other group were performed twice in 4–5 cm and 7–8 cm dilatations for 20 min. In the control group, no intervention except routine care was performed. The research tools included Visual Analogue Scale of Pain and Spielberger’s Anxiety Inventory. Data were analyzed using SPSS) version 22(, ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, Chi-square and Tukey tests. Significance level was considered 0.05 in this study. RESULTS: The main result was differences in pain and anxiety before and after the intervention. There was no significant difference between pre-intervention pain and anxiety scores in the three groups, but there was a significant difference between pain and anxiety scores immediately and 30 min after the intervention. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that virtual reality and chewing mint gum intervention reduce pain and anxiety in the first stage of childbirth. TRIAL REGISTRATION: IRCT20181214041963N1.