Impact of Immersive Virtual Reality During Outpatient Sedation‐Free Colonoscopy: A Randomized Prospective Controlled Study

ABSTRACT Background and Aims Colonoscopy is the gold standard for accurate exploration of the colon. Thus, it must be performed as efficiently as possible. The patient's tolerance considerably affects the quality of sedation free examinations. Pharmacological sedation can solve this issue; howe...

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Main Authors: Myriam Ayari, Sameh Riahi, Mohamed Hedi Douggui, Taieb Jomni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-04-01
Series:Health Science Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70563
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author Myriam Ayari
Sameh Riahi
Mohamed Hedi Douggui
Taieb Jomni
author_facet Myriam Ayari
Sameh Riahi
Mohamed Hedi Douggui
Taieb Jomni
author_sort Myriam Ayari
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background and Aims Colonoscopy is the gold standard for accurate exploration of the colon. Thus, it must be performed as efficiently as possible. The patient's tolerance considerably affects the quality of sedation free examinations. Pharmacological sedation can solve this issue; however, it can expose to significant adverse events. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of immersive virtual reality (VR) during sedation‐free colonoscopy. Methods We conducted a prospective controlled study including outpatients presenting for unsedated colonoscopy. Patients were randomized into Group 1: colonoscopy with VR headset and Group 2: without intervention. Anxiety, comfort, and pain were respectively evaluated by State‐Trait Anxiety inventory (STAI), Gloucester scale and the verbal rating scale (VRS). Results In total, 63 patients were included: intervention group G1 (n = 33) and control group G2 (n = 30). A slightly lower time to caecal intubation was noted in the intervention group without significant difference (G1 = 19 min vs. G2 = 26 min, p = 0.07). Patients with VR mask expressed lower levels of post‐procedural anxiety than those in the control group (mean STAI G1 = 47 vs. G2 = 53, p < 0.01) and a significant decrease in the STAI score compared to pre‐endoscopy values (8 vs. 4 points, p < 0.01). The per‐procedural pain assessed by VRS was significantly lower in the patients using VR (Mean G1 = 0.44 vs. G2 = 1.32, p < 0.01). Moreover, endoscopic examination was found to be more comfortable with VR based on the Gloucester scale p < 0.01. Conclusions Immersive VR technology is a promising, noninvasive and well‐accepted tool for improving tolerance by reducing colonoscopy induced pain and anxiety allowing an optimized examination.
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spelling doaj-art-45e377f2f4d64a2f82ca71a95f4e780d2025-08-20T03:52:28ZengWileyHealth Science Reports2398-88352025-04-0184n/an/a10.1002/hsr2.70563Impact of Immersive Virtual Reality During Outpatient Sedation‐Free Colonoscopy: A Randomized Prospective Controlled StudyMyriam Ayari0Sameh Riahi1Mohamed Hedi Douggui2Taieb Jomni3Department of Gastroenterology Internal Security Forces Hospital La Marsa La Marsa TunisiaDepartment of Gastroenterology Internal Security Forces Hospital La Marsa La Marsa TunisiaDepartment of Gastroenterology Internal Security Forces Hospital La Marsa La Marsa TunisiaDepartment of Gastroenterology Internal Security Forces Hospital La Marsa La Marsa TunisiaABSTRACT Background and Aims Colonoscopy is the gold standard for accurate exploration of the colon. Thus, it must be performed as efficiently as possible. The patient's tolerance considerably affects the quality of sedation free examinations. Pharmacological sedation can solve this issue; however, it can expose to significant adverse events. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of immersive virtual reality (VR) during sedation‐free colonoscopy. Methods We conducted a prospective controlled study including outpatients presenting for unsedated colonoscopy. Patients were randomized into Group 1: colonoscopy with VR headset and Group 2: without intervention. Anxiety, comfort, and pain were respectively evaluated by State‐Trait Anxiety inventory (STAI), Gloucester scale and the verbal rating scale (VRS). Results In total, 63 patients were included: intervention group G1 (n = 33) and control group G2 (n = 30). A slightly lower time to caecal intubation was noted in the intervention group without significant difference (G1 = 19 min vs. G2 = 26 min, p = 0.07). Patients with VR mask expressed lower levels of post‐procedural anxiety than those in the control group (mean STAI G1 = 47 vs. G2 = 53, p < 0.01) and a significant decrease in the STAI score compared to pre‐endoscopy values (8 vs. 4 points, p < 0.01). The per‐procedural pain assessed by VRS was significantly lower in the patients using VR (Mean G1 = 0.44 vs. G2 = 1.32, p < 0.01). Moreover, endoscopic examination was found to be more comfortable with VR based on the Gloucester scale p < 0.01. Conclusions Immersive VR technology is a promising, noninvasive and well‐accepted tool for improving tolerance by reducing colonoscopy induced pain and anxiety allowing an optimized examination.https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70563anxietycolonoscopycomfortimmersionpainvirtual reality
spellingShingle Myriam Ayari
Sameh Riahi
Mohamed Hedi Douggui
Taieb Jomni
Impact of Immersive Virtual Reality During Outpatient Sedation‐Free Colonoscopy: A Randomized Prospective Controlled Study
Health Science Reports
anxiety
colonoscopy
comfort
immersion
pain
virtual reality
title Impact of Immersive Virtual Reality During Outpatient Sedation‐Free Colonoscopy: A Randomized Prospective Controlled Study
title_full Impact of Immersive Virtual Reality During Outpatient Sedation‐Free Colonoscopy: A Randomized Prospective Controlled Study
title_fullStr Impact of Immersive Virtual Reality During Outpatient Sedation‐Free Colonoscopy: A Randomized Prospective Controlled Study
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Immersive Virtual Reality During Outpatient Sedation‐Free Colonoscopy: A Randomized Prospective Controlled Study
title_short Impact of Immersive Virtual Reality During Outpatient Sedation‐Free Colonoscopy: A Randomized Prospective Controlled Study
title_sort impact of immersive virtual reality during outpatient sedation free colonoscopy a randomized prospective controlled study
topic anxiety
colonoscopy
comfort
immersion
pain
virtual reality
url https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70563
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AT mohamedhedidouggui impactofimmersivevirtualrealityduringoutpatientsedationfreecolonoscopyarandomizedprospectivecontrolledstudy
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