Effect of Virtual Reality on Pain and Anxiety During Pap Smear Testing

NCT07462039 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: ETK-00-2025-0190
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled pretest-posttest experimental study aims to evaluate the effect of virtual reality (VR) on pain and anxiety levels experienced during Pap smear sampling. Although cervical cancer is largely preventable through regular screening, many women avoid Pap smear testing due to anxiety, fear of pain, and discomfort during gynecological examinations. Innovative, non-invasive interventions are needed to improve women's screening experiences and participation rates. The study will be conducted in a gynecology outpatient clinic with 60 women aged 18-65 years who meet the inclusion criteria and provide informed consent. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group (VR headset during the procedure) or the control group (standard care). Women in the intervention group will watch a 360° relaxing nature video during the Pap smear procedure. Data will be collected using a Personal Information Form, the State Anxiety Inventory, and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The findings may support integrating VR into clinical practice to enhance patient comfort during screening procedures.

Conditions

Nurse's Role; Pain Management; Cervical Cancer Screening; Anxiety

Keywords

virtual reality; pap smear; pain; anxiety; Cervical Cancer Screening

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Pain level during Pap smear procedure

  Pain intensity experienced during the Pap smear procedure will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The VAS is a 10-cm scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.

  Immediately after completion of the Pap smear procedure (within 5 minutes post-procedure).

• State anxiety level

  Anxiety level will be assessed using the State Anxiety Inventory before and after the Pap smear procedure. Higher scores indicate higher anxiety levels.

  Immediately before the procedure and immediately after the procedure.

Study Arms (2)

Virtual Reality Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will watch a 360° relaxing nature video through a VR headset during the Pap smear procedure.

Behavioral: Virtual Reality

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Routin nursing care

Interventions

Virtual Reality BEHAVIORAL

Participants will watch a 360° relaxing nature video through a VR headset during the Pap smear procedure.

Virtual Reality Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Pap Smear
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Women aged 18-65 years
• Scheduled for a Pap smear procedure
• Able to communicate in Turkish
• Able to understand and complete the study questionnaires
• Willing to provide written informed consent
• No visual or hearing impairment preventing the use of a VR headset

You may not qualify if:

• History of severe motion sickness or vertigo
• Diagnosed psychiatric disorder affecting anxiety assessment
• Use of anxiolytic or sedative medication within 24 hours prior to the procedure
• Presence of acute pelvic pain or active vaginal infection
• Previous participation in this study
• Any condition preventing safe use of a VR headset

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Eastern Mediterranean University: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Agnosia; Anxiety Disorders; Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Perceptual Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Mental Disorders

Central Study Contacts

Arzu Abiç, PhD

CONTACT

05488506060; arzu.abic@gmail.com

Buse Güney

CONTACT

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: Participants will be blinded to the study hypothesis. The intervention group will receive virtual reality during the Pap smear procedure, while the control group will receive standard care.
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Participants will be randomly assigned to either the virtual reality intervention group or the control group. Women in the intervention group will receive virtual reality distraction during the Pap smear procedure, while the control group will receive standard care. Pain and anxiety levels will be compared between the groups.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 3, 2026
• First Posted: March 10, 2026
• Study Start: March 10, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 10, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 10, 2026
• Last Updated: March 10, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03