The Effect of Virtual Reality Headset and Hand Massage on Pain, Anxiety, Patient Satisfaction, and Physiological Parameters in Patients Who Have Undergone Abdominal Surgery

November 7, 2026 updated by: Gizem Göktuna, Dokuz Eylul University

The Effect of Virtual Reality Headset and Hand Massage on Pain, Anxiety, Patient Satisfaction, and Physiological Parameters in Patients Who Have Undergone Abdominal Surgery: A Single-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of using a virtual reality headset and conventional hand massage on pain, anxiety, patient satisfaction, and physiological parameters in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Participants will be randomly assigned to three groups: the virtual reality group, the conventional hand massage group, and the control group. Pain levels, anxiety levels, satisfaction levels, and physiological parameters will be assessed both before and after the procedure. The study aims to determine whether these non-pharmacological methods improve postoperative pain, anxiety, patient satisfaction, and physiological parameters.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
66

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • • Aged 18 and older

    • Who have not previously undergone abdominal surgery
    • Who underwent elective surgery
    • Who had a numerical pain scale score of 3 or higher prior to the procedure
    • Possessing the cognitive ability to tolerate the virtual reality headset application
    • Voluntarily agreeing to participate in the study
    • Patients on the second postoperative day
    • No history of chronic pain (e.g., arthritis)
    • Patients who are alert and oriented enough to communicate (Glasgow Coma Scale 15)
    • Patients with normal vision and hearing
    • Patients suitable for hand massage
    • Patients who are not addicted to alcohol or drugs
    • Patients not taking anxiolytics
    • Patients who can read and understand Turkish

Exclusion Criteria:

  • • Those under the age of 18

    • Those with vision or hearing loss
    • Those who are not clinically stable
    • Those who have undergone emergency surgery
    • Those with a known history of epilepsy, vertigo, or limited mobility
    • Those with surgical incisions or wounds in the facial area that prevent them from wearing VR goggles
    • Those using chronic opioids or psychiatric medications
    • Individuals with open wounds, burns, infections, phlebitis, ecchymosis, hematomas, or fractures on their hands
    • Patients with an intravenous catheter in their hand
    • Those who wish to withdraw from the study during the research period

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Virtual Reality Group

Immediately before the procedure, the fourth researcher will administer the Numerical Pain Scale, the State Anxiety Scale, the Numerical Satisfaction Scale, and the Physiological Parameters Monitoring Form to patients on the second postoperative day at the clinic. Next, the second researcher will fit the patient with a virtual reality headset, and the patient will watch nature-themed videos-such as forest scenes, beach walks, and parks-for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, the virtual reality session will end. Immediately after the intervention and 30 minutes later, the fourth researcher will have the patients complete the Numerical Pain Scale, State Anxiety Scale, Numerical Satisfaction Scale, and Physiological Parameters Monitoring Form.
Behavioral: Virtual Reality Glasses

Immediately before the procedure, the fourth researcher will administer the Numerical Pain Scale, the State Anxiety Scale, the Numerical Satisfaction Scale, and the Physiological Parameters Monitoring Form to patients on the second postoperative day at the clinic. Next, the second researcher will fit the patient with a virtual reality headset, and the patient will watch nature-themed videos-such as forest scenes, beach walks, and parks-for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, the virtual reality session will end. Immediately after the intervention and 30 minutes later, the fourth researcher will have the patients complete the Numerical Pain Scale, State Anxiety Scale, Numerical Satisfaction Scale, and Physiological Parameters Monitoring Form. This distraction technique aims to reduce pain perception and anxiety levels, increase patient satisfaction during the procedure, and improve physiological parameters.

Other Names:
  • VR Glasses
Experimental: Classic Hand Massage Group

Immediately before the intervention, the fourth researcher will administer the Numerical Pain Scale, State Anxiety Scale, Numerical Satisfaction Scale, and Physiological Parameters Monitoring Form to patients on the second postoperative day at the clinic. Next, the second researcher will perform a classic hand massage for a total of 15 minutes-7.5 minutes on the right hand followed by 7.5 minutes on the left hand. After 15 minutes, the classical hand massage will be discontinued. Immediately after the intervention and 30 minutes later, the fourth researcher will have the patients complete the Numerical Pain Scale, State Anxiety Scale, Numerical Satisfaction Scale, and Physiological Parameters Monitoring Form.
Behavioral: Classic Hand Massage

Immediately before the intervention, the fourth researcher will administer the Numerical Pain Scale, State Anxiety Scale, Numerical Satisfaction Scale, and Physiological Parameters Monitoring Form to patients on the second postoperative day at the clinic. Next, the second researcher will perform a classic hand massage for a total of 15 minutes-7.5 minutes on the right hand followed by 7.5 minutes on the left hand. After 15 minutes, the classical hand massage will be discontinued. Immediately after the intervention and 30 minutes later, the fourth researcher will have the patients complete the Numerical Pain Scale, State Anxiety Scale, Numerical Satisfaction Scale, and Physiological Parameters Monitoring Form. This distraction technique aims to reduce pain perception and anxiety levels, increase patient satisfaction during the procedure, and improve physiological parameters.

Other Names:
  • Hand Massage
No Intervention: Control Group

During the initial patient encounter, the fourth researcher will administer the Numerical Pain Scale, the State Anxiety Scale, the Numerical Satisfaction Scale, and the Physiological Parameters Monitoring Form. In routine clinical practice, care will be continued by the nurse responsible for the patient's care. The second researcher will not perform any additional interventions. At the same time as the group receiving the virtual reality headset application and conventional hand massage, the fourth researcher will have the patients complete the Numerical Pain Scale, State Anxiety Scale, Numerical Satisfaction Scale, and Physiological Parameters Monitoring Form.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Postoperative pain
Time Frame: The second day after surgery, immediately before the procedure, immediately after the procedure, and 30 minutes later.

Pain intensity will be measured using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (the most severe pain possible). Measurements will be taken three times: on the second day after surgery, immediately before the procedure, immediately after the procedure, and 30 minutes later.
The second day after surgery, immediately before the procedure, immediately after the procedure, and 30 minutes later.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Postoperative anxiety levels
Time Frame: The second day after surgery; immediately before the procedure; immediately after the procedure; and 30 minutes after the procedure.

Anxiety levels will be assessed using the Situational Anxiety Inventory - Short Form (STAIS-S). This scale measures temporary anxiety levels. Scores range from 20 to 80. Measurements will be taken three times: on the second day after surgery; immediately before the procedure; immediately after the procedure; and 30 minutes after the procedure. Higher scores indicate higher (worse) anxiety levels.
The second day after surgery; immediately before the procedure; immediately after the procedure; and 30 minutes after the procedure.
Post-surgery satisfaction levels
Time Frame: The second day after surgery; immediately before the procedure; immediately after the procedure; and 30 minutes after the procedure.

Patient satisfaction will be assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) ranging from 0 (not at all satisfied) to 10 (extremely satisfied). Measurements will be taken three times: on the second day after surgery; immediately before the procedure; immediately after the procedure; and 30 minutes after the procedure. Higher scores indicate greater satisfaction.
The second day after surgery; immediately before the procedure; immediately after the procedure; and 30 minutes after the procedure.
Systolic Blood Pressure
Time Frame: The second day after surgery; immediately before the procedure; immediately after the procedure; and 30 minutes after the procedure.

Systolic blood pressure will be measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Higher values indicate higher systolic blood pressure.
The second day after surgery; immediately before the procedure; immediately after the procedure; and 30 minutes after the procedure.
Diastolic Blood Pressure
Time Frame: The second day after surgery; immediately before the procedure; immediately after the procedure; and 30 minutes after the procedure.

Diastolic blood pressure will be measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Higher values indicate higher diastolic blood pressure.
The second day after surgery; immediately before the procedure; immediately after the procedure; and 30 minutes after the procedure.
Pulse Rate
Time Frame: The second day after surgery; immediately before the procedure; immediately after the procedure; and 30 minutes after the procedure.

Pulse rate will be measured in beats per minute (beats/min).
The second day after surgery; immediately before the procedure; immediately after the procedure; and 30 minutes after the procedure.
Respiratory Rate
Time Frame: The second day after surgery; immediately before the procedure; immediately after the procedure; and 30 minutes after the procedure.

Respiratory rate will be measured in breaths per minute (breaths/min).
The second day after surgery; immediately before the procedure; immediately after the procedure; and 30 minutes after the procedure.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Dokuz Eylul University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
November 5, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 3, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 7, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 10, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 10, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 7, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2026/37-04

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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