The Effect of a Virtual Reality Video Intervention

July 23, 2026 updated by: Sümeyye BAL

The Effect of a Virtual Reality Headset-Based Video Intervention on Fear of Childbirth and Anxiety in High-Risk Pregnant Women

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of a virtual reality (VR) video intervention on fear of childbirth and anxiety among hospitalized high-risk pregnant women receiving bed rest. High-risk pregnancy and prolonged hospitalization may increase psychological distress, including fear of childbirth and anxiety. Virtual reality has emerged as a non-pharmacological distraction technique that promotes relaxation by immersing individuals in calming virtual environments. Participants in the intervention group will watch a nature-themed VR video with relaxing sounds using a VR headset in addition to routine care, while the control group will receive routine care only. The findings may provide evidence for the use of VR as a supportive nursing intervention to improve the psychological well-being of hospitalized high-risk pregnant women.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Pregnancy is a physiological process; however, approximately one-third of pregnancies are classified as high-risk due to maternal, fetal, or obstetric conditions that may threaten the health of the mother and/or fetus. Women with high-risk pregnancies frequently require hospitalization and bed rest for close maternal and fetal monitoring. Although hospitalization is essential for preventing adverse pregnancy outcomes, prolonged bed rest and uncertainty regarding pregnancy outcomes may increase psychological distress, particularly fear of childbirth and anxiety.

Fear of childbirth and anxiety are common among women with high-risk pregnancies and may negatively affect maternal well-being, treatment adherence, and pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, effective, safe, and non-pharmacological interventions that reduce psychological distress during hospitalization are needed.

Virtual reality (VR) is an immersive technology that provides users with a three-dimensional virtual environment and has been increasingly used as a distraction and relaxation intervention in healthcare settings. Previous studies have demonstrated that VR may reduce pain, anxiety, and stress in various clinical populations by diverting attention from unpleasant stimuli and promoting relaxation. However, evidence regarding the effectiveness of VR in reducing fear of childbirth and anxiety among hospitalized women with high-risk pregnancies is limited.

The present study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a VR-based relaxation intervention in hospitalized high-risk pregnant women receiving bed rest. Eligible participants who provide written informed consent will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group using block randomization.

Participants in the intervention group will receive routine obstetric and nursing care in addition to a VR intervention. During the intervention, participants will wear a compatible VR headset and watch a 360-degree nature-themed relaxation video accompanied by calming natural sounds for approximately 15 minutes while resting in bed. Participants in the control group will receive routine obstetric and nursing care only.

The primary outcomes of the study are fear of childbirth and anxiety. These outcomes will be measured using validated assessment instruments before and after the intervention. The effectiveness of the VR intervention will be determined by comparing outcome measures between the intervention and control groups.

This study is expected to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of virtual reality as a safe, inexpensive, and non-pharmacological nursing intervention for reducing fear of childbirth and anxiety among hospitalized high-risk pregnant women. If effective, VR may be incorporated into routine prenatal inpatient care to improve maternal psychological well-being.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

60

Phase

  • 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

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Women aged 18 years or older
  • Willing to participate in the study and provide written informed consent
  • No diagnosed psychiatric or mental disorder

Exclusion Criteria:

-

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: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Virtual Reality Group
In addition to routine obstetric and nursing care, participants assigned to the virtual reality group will receive a virtual reality intervention. Women in this group will wear a virtual reality headset while resting in bed and watch a relaxing 360° nature video accompanied by calming natural sounds for approximately 30 minutes. The virtual reality intervention is designed to promote relaxation and reduce fear of childbirth and anxiety during hospitalization.
Other: Virtual Reality Group
Participants assigned to the control group will receive routine obstetric and nursing care only. No additional intervention will be administered.
Other Names:
  • control
No Intervention: control group
Participants assigned to the control group will receive routine obstetric and nursing care only. No additional intervention will be administered.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
State Anxiety
Time Frame: Baseline (immediately before the intervention) and immediately after the 15-minute intervention
State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) (State subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, STAI-State)
Baseline (immediately before the intervention) and immediately after the 15-minute intervention
Fear of Childbirth
Time Frame: Baseline (immediately before the intervention) and immediately after the 15-minute intervention
Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire Version A (W-DEQ Version A)
Baseline (immediately before the intervention) and immediately after the 15-minute intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Sümeyye BAL

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)

July 15, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 15, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 8, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 23, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 24, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 23, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2023/44

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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