The Effect of Virtual Reality Glasses and Breathing Exercise on Anxiety

NCT07745946 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2025-03/18
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 107
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study was conducted to determine the effect of virtual reality glasses use and breathing exercise application on anxiety levels in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Conditions

Breast Cancer

Keywords

Nursing, cancer, anxiety, chemotherapy, breathing exercise, virtual reality

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Anxiety Level

  Anxiety levels will be measured using a validated anxiety assessment tool ( State-Trait Anxiety Inventory \[STAI\], VAS, Vital Signs form before and after the intervention (virtual reality glasses, breathing exercise, or standard care) in each study group. The change in anxiety scores between baseline and post-intervention will be compared across the three groups.

  Baseline (before intervention) and immediately after intervention during the chemotherapy session

Study Arms (3)

Breathing Exercise Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Breathing exercise applied during chemotherapy sessions

Behavioral: Breathing exercise

Virtual Reality Glasses Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Use of virtual reality glasses during chemotherapy sessions

Behavioral: Virtual Reality Glasses

Control (Standard Care)

NO INTERVENTION

Interventions

Breathing exercise BEHAVIORAL

Intervention 1: Breathing Exercise In this study, participants in the breathing exercise group will perform diaphragmatic (deep) breathing exercises during their chemotherapy sessions. Diaphragmatic breathing promotes deeper, more controlled respiration through effective use of the diaphragm muscle, producing a balancing effect on the autonomic nervous system, while slow rhythmic breathing supports relaxation by increasing heart rate variability. Participants will be guided by a nurse/researcher to perform the exercise for \[10 minutes\]

Also known as: Using Virtual Reality Glasses

Breathing Exercise Group

Virtual Reality Glasses BEHAVIORAL

Intervention 2: Virtual Reality Glasses Participants in the virtual reality group will wear VR glasses displaying calming, distraction-based visual and auditory content during their chemotherapy infusion. This intervention aims to redirect attention away from the treatment process, thereby reducing perceived stress and anxiety. The VR session will be applied for \[10 minutes\]

Virtual Reality Glasses Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Diagnosed with breast cancer
• Aged 18 years or older
• Receiving treatment in the outpatient (day-case) chemotherapy unit
• Voluntarily agreeing to participate in the study

You may not qualify if:

• Having a respiratory-related disease
• Having visual or hearing impairment
• Having a communication problem
• Having a diagnosis of psychiatric disease
• Having a cancer diagnosis other than breast cancer
• Receiving ice-cap therapy to prevent/reduce hair loss or cryotherapy for hand-foot neuropathy during chemotherapy treatment
• Having vertigo or head-neck disorders
• Patients hospitalized for their first cycle of chemotherapy treatment

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ankara Medipol University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Ankara Medipol University

Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Breast Neoplasms; Neoplasms; Anxiety Disorders

Interventions

Breathing Exercises

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neoplasms by Site; Breast Diseases; Skin Diseases; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Exercise Movement Techniques; Physical Therapy Modalities

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: The results were evaluated by a statistician independent of the study, without knowledge of the group assignments.
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Asst. Prof.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 30, 2026
• First Posted: August 4, 2026
• Study Start: March 15, 2025
• Primary Completion: April 15, 2026
• Study Completion: April 15, 2026
• Last Updated: August 4, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)