The Effect of Virtual Reality Distraction on Pain During Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is a primary method of examining colorectal diseases. However, the procedure is associated with embarrassment, pain, and discomfort. This make patients less willing to be subjected to repeat surveillance colonoscopies. Performing colonoscopy under sedation is widely used in clinical practice. However, sedation increases complications associated with colonoscopy and has potential risks such as hypoxemia, hypoventilation, aspiration pneumonia. Therefore, several studies have examined non-pharmacological interventions to reduce anxiety and pain during endoscopy. These studies found that combined visual and auditory distraction is better at reducing discomfort than auditory distraction alone. Virtual reality is a method of displaying computer images in order to isolate the individual from real life for a while. The virtual reality application is considered an effective tool for distraction during pain and there are various studies showing its effectiveness in the management of pain and anxiety in various clinical settings. There are limited studies showing effectiveness of virtual reality application in colonoscopy and no studies have been done in India about the same. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of virtual reality applications during a colonoscopy on the pain experienced by patients.