The Effect of Virtual Reality Glasses Applied to Hemodialysis Patients on Vital Signs and Anxiety Level

This randomized controlled experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effects of virtual reality glasses used during hemodialysis on patients' vital signs and anxiety levels. A total of 56 adult patients receiving hemodialysis at Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. Patients in the experimental group watched a 4K virtual reality nature video with relaxing background music during hemodialysis, while the control group received standard hemodialysis care. Vital signs, pain, anxiety, and satisfaction were assessed to evaluate the effectiveness of the virtual reality intervention.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Hemodialysis; Kidney Failure
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Virtual Reality Glasses; Other: Standard Hemodialysis Care

Detailed Description

The research was designed and conducted as a randomized controlled experimental study to determine the effects of virtual reality glasses on the vital signs and anxiety levels of hemodialysis patients.

The study population consisted of patients diagnosed with kidney failure who received hemodialysis at Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital between May 2023 and May 2024. A total of 56 patients who volunteered to participate and met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. These patients were randomly assigned to two homogeneous groups according to gender and type of renal failure (acute/chronic): an experimental group (n=28) and a control group (n=28).

Patients in the experimental group watched a 4K virtual reality video featuring natural scenery accompanied by relaxing background music through virtual reality glasses during hemodialysis, whereas patients in the control group received standard hemodialysis care without any additional intervention.

Data were collected using the Patient Information Form, Vital Signs Follow-up Form, Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS), State Anxiety Scale, and Visual Analog Scale for Satisfaction (VAS-Satisfaction). Ethics committee approval, institutional permission, and written informed consent were obtained before the study was conducted.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 56
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye), 06200
    • Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Receiving hemodialysis treatment for the first time.
• Age ≥18 years.
• No visual, hearing, or cognitive impairment.
• Able to communicate effectively.
• Clinically stable.
• No diagnosed psychiatric disorder or use of psychiatric medication.
• No history of seizures.
• Willing and able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous hemodialysis treatment.
• Age <18 years.
• Visual, hearing, or cognitive impairment.
• History of kidney transplantation.
• Communication difficulties.
• Diagnosed psychiatric disorder or use of psychiatric medication.
• History of seizures.
• Declined to participate in the study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental Group; Participants received a virtual reality intervention during hemodialysis in addition to standard care.	Device: Virtual Reality Glasses; Participants wore virtual reality glasses at the start of the hemodialysis session and viewed a 4K nature video with calming background music for 15 minutes. The intervention was administered once during the hemodialysis session in addition to standard hemodialysis care.; Other: Standard Hemodialysis Care; Participants received routine hemodialysis care according to the standard clinical practice of the dialysis unit without any additional intervention.
Active Comparator: Control Group; Participants received standard hemodialysis care without any additional intervention.	Other: Standard Hemodialysis Care; Participants received routine hemodialysis care according to the standard clinical practice of the dialysis unit without any additional intervention.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Systolic Blood Pressure	Change in systolic blood pressure measured before and after the hemodialysis session.	Baseline (before the hemodialysis session) and immediately after completion of the hemodialysis session.
Change in Diastolic Blood Pressure	Change in diastolic blood pressure measured before and after the hemodialysis session.	Baseline (before the hemodialysis session) and immediately after completion of the hemodialysis session.
Change in Heart Rate	Change in heart rate measured before and after the hemodialysis session.	Baseline (before the hemodialysis session) and immediately after completion of the hemodialysis session.
Change in Respiratory Rate	Change in respiratory rate measured before and after the hemodialysis session.	Baseline (before the hemodialysis session) and immediately after completion of the hemodialysis session.
Change in Peripheral Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂)	Change in peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂) measured before and after the hemodialysis session.	Baseline (before the hemodialysis session) and immediately after completion of the hemodialysis session.
Change in Body Temperature	Change in body temperature measured before and after the hemodialysis session.	Baseline (before the hemodialysis session) and immediately after completion of the hemodialysis session.
State Anxiety Level After Hemodialysis	State anxiety measured using the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-State), a 20-item questionnaire with total scores ranging from 20 to 80. Higher scores indicate greater levels of state anxiety. Assessment was performed immediately after completion of the hemodialysis session.	Immediately after completion of the hemodialysis session.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Pain Score	Change in pain score measured using the Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS-P), a 0-10 scale where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst possible pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain. Pain was assessed before and immediately after completion of the hemodialysis session.	Baseline (before the hemodialysis session) and immediately after completion of the hemodialysis session.
Participant Satisfaction Score	Participant satisfaction with the virtual reality intervention measured using the Visual Analog Scale for Satisfaction (VAS-S), a 0-10 scale where 0 indicates not satisfied at all and 10 indicates completely satisfied. Higher scores indicate greater participant satisfaction. Assessment was performed immediately after completion of the hemodialysis session.	Immediately after completion of the hemodialysis session.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ankara Yildirim Beyazıt University
• Investigators: Study Director: Hilal Tüzer, Assoc. Prof., Ankara Yildirim Beyazıt University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 3, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 27, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): May 27, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 28, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 9, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 15, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 15, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 9, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Anxiety; Randomized Controlled Trial; Virtual Reality; Nursing; Hemodialysis; Vital Signs; Virtual Reality Glasses
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Mental Disorders; Male Urogenital Diseases; Kidney Diseases; Urologic Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Anxiety Disorders; Renal Insufficiency
• Other Study ID Numbers: AYBU-2023-208

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED
• IPD Plan Description: The decision regarding sharing of individual participant data has not yet been finalized. Any future data sharing will be considered in accordance with institutional policies, ethical requirements, and applicable regulations.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No