The Effect of Applying Virtual Reality during Chemotherapy on Distress and Fatigue of Women with Breast Cancer Admitted to the Oncology Ward of Tohid Hospital in Sanandaj in 2022

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Student Research Committee, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran

2 Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences

3 Ph.D of Reproductive Health, Assistant Professor of Midwifery department, Nursing and Midwifery faculty of Sanandaj, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.

4 Cancer and Immunology Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran

10.22038/ijogi.2025.81699.6171

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy and the second cause of cancer-related death in women. Considering the importance of breast cancer and the psychological and physical complications caused by it,, it is necessary to conduct studies to find effective methods to overcome these complications. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of applying virtual reality during chemotherapy on the distress and fatigue of women with breast cancer.

Material and Methods: The present study was an interventional study with a cross-sectional design that was conducted on 50 women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy in the oncology ward of Tohid hospital in Sanandaj in 2022-2024. People who met the entry criteria were selected and then divided into two intervention and control groups of 25 people by simple random allocation. The data collection tool including the demographic and clinical information checklist and questionnaires of symptom distress scale and Piper fatigue scale were completed by the participants before, immediately, 24 and 48 hours after chemotherapy. to analyze the study data, STATA software version 17 and variance analysis, Shapiro-Wilk, independent T and mixed linear regression effect models were used.

Results: The results of the study showed that the intervention had a significant effect on reducing the average scores of distress and fatigue (P<0.001).

Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the virtual reality technique was effective in reducing distress and fatigue caused by chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.

Keywords: Cancer, breast,, chemotherapy, virtual reality, distress, fatigue

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Main Subjects

The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 04 November 2025

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