TY - JOUR

T1 - Virtual reality interventions to reduce psychological distress during colonoscopy

T2 - a rapid review

AU - Shamali, Mahdi

AU - Vilmann, Peter

AU - Johansen, Niels René

AU - Konradsen, Hanne

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - INTRODUCTION: Colonoscopy can cause psychological distress in patients, consequently discouraging patients from undergoing an unpleasant procedure or reducing compliance with follow-up examinations. This rapid review aimed to assess the feasibility and efficacy of Virtual Reality (VR) interventions during colonoscopy on patients' perceived psychological distress and procedure satisfaction.AREAS COVERED: We searched PubMed, CINAHL, ProQuest/All Databases, and Cochrane Library databases on 1 December 2022, with a date limiter of 2002-2022 for articles that investigated the effect and feasibility of any type of immersive VR-based intervention on patients' pain, anxiety, discomfort, and procedure satisfaction immediately before, during, and/or post-procedure of colonoscopy.EXPERT OPINION: Initially, 118 articles were identified, of which seven were eligible and included in this rapid review. Our findings demonstrate that VR interventions during colonoscopy were feasible, significantly reduced participant pain and anxiety, and significantly increased participant satisfaction with the procedure. VR interventions appear to be an effective alternative for patients who prefer to avoid analgetic medications or as an adjunct to routine sedation during colonoscopy. Directions of research design should focus on an optimized blinding process, using the high-end technology of 3-dimensional devices, considering an audiovisual distracting intervention, and designing multicenter and high-quality Randomized Controlled Trials.

AB - INTRODUCTION: Colonoscopy can cause psychological distress in patients, consequently discouraging patients from undergoing an unpleasant procedure or reducing compliance with follow-up examinations. This rapid review aimed to assess the feasibility and efficacy of Virtual Reality (VR) interventions during colonoscopy on patients' perceived psychological distress and procedure satisfaction.AREAS COVERED: We searched PubMed, CINAHL, ProQuest/All Databases, and Cochrane Library databases on 1 December 2022, with a date limiter of 2002-2022 for articles that investigated the effect and feasibility of any type of immersive VR-based intervention on patients' pain, anxiety, discomfort, and procedure satisfaction immediately before, during, and/or post-procedure of colonoscopy.EXPERT OPINION: Initially, 118 articles were identified, of which seven were eligible and included in this rapid review. Our findings demonstrate that VR interventions during colonoscopy were feasible, significantly reduced participant pain and anxiety, and significantly increased participant satisfaction with the procedure. VR interventions appear to be an effective alternative for patients who prefer to avoid analgetic medications or as an adjunct to routine sedation during colonoscopy. Directions of research design should focus on an optimized blinding process, using the high-end technology of 3-dimensional devices, considering an audiovisual distracting intervention, and designing multicenter and high-quality Randomized Controlled Trials.

KW - Humans

KW - Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

KW - Pain

KW - Colonoscopy/adverse effects

KW - Anxiety/etiology

KW - Patient Compliance

KW - Multicenter Studies as Topic

U2 - 10.1080/17474124.2023.2279177

DO - 10.1080/17474124.2023.2279177

M3 - Review

C2 - 37929329

VL - 17

SP - 1149

EP - 1157

JO - Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology

JF - Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology

SN - 1747-4124

IS - 11

ER -