The Effect of Applying Virtual Reality during Chemotherapy on Distress and Fatigue of Women with Breast Cancer: A Cross-Over Interventional Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 M.Sc. Student of Midwifery, Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.

3 Associate Professor, Department of Hematology & Oncology, Cancer and Immunology Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Faculty of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.

4 Associate Professor, Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.

5 Professor, Department of Midwifery, Clinical Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.

10.22038/ijogi.2025.81699.6171

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide. The present study was conducted with aim to determine the effect of using virtual reality during chemotherapy on distress and fatigue of women with breast.
Methods: This crossover interventional study was conducted in 2021 on 50 women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy in the oncology ward of Tohid hospital in Sanandaj. Using simple random allocation, women were divided into two groups of intervention-control (B) and control-intervention (A) (n=25 per group). In the third session of chemotherapy for the intervention-control group (B), in addition to the usual care, intervention was carried out and the control-intervention group (A) received the usual care, and in the fourth session of chemotherapy for the control-intervention group (A), in addition to the usual care, the mentioned intervention was done, and the control-intervention group (B) received the usual care. The intervention includes playing videos of walking in the forest throughout the chemotherapy period. Data collection tools included demographic and clinical information, McCorkle and Young's Symptom Distress Scale questionnaires, and Piper's Fatigue Scale, before, immediately, 24, and 48 hours after chemotherapy. Data were to analyse using STATA software (version 17) and variance analysis, Shapiro-Wilk, independent t and mixed linear regression effect models. P<0.05 was considered significant.
Results: The intervention had a significant effect on distress and fatigue scores immediately, 24 and 48 hours after chemotherapy in both groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of the order of the intervention (P=0.057). The intervention had a significant effect on reducing the mean distress scores and fatigue scores in both groups (P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the mean fatigue scores in terms of the order of the intervention (P=0.043); so that the scores of the intervention-control group (B) were lower than the control-intervention group (A).
Conclusion: The virtual reality technique was effective in reducing distress and fatigue caused by chemotherapy in breast cancer patients, so it is recommended to use this method in the hospital.

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Main Subjects

References

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The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility
Volume 28, Issue 10
December 2025
Pages 62-76

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