The Effect of Virtual Reality-Based Intervention on Anxiety, Stress, and Pain in Women Undergoing Colposcopy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Due to its invasive nature, the colposcopy procedure can cause high levels of anxiety, stress, pain, and nausea in women. The uncertainty surrounding the condition to be diagnosed, combined with the discomfort caused by the procedure itself, creates significant psychological stress in women and can negatively impact their compliance with diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, it is believed that applying Virtual Reality (VR) technology-one of the distraction techniques-as a non-pharmacological method for women undergoing colposcopy could be effective in reducing pain and anxiety by diverting their cognitive attention away from the procedure's negative stimuli. Although there are many studies in the literature using VR technology, no study has been found that examines the effect of VR-based interventions on anxiety, stress, and pain levels in women undergoing colposcopy. Therefore, this study will be one of the first randomized controlled trials to examine the multidimensional effects of virtual reality (anxiety, stress, pain) in women undergoing colposcopy. The findings will contribute to the widespread adoption of non-pharmacological nursing interventions in clinical practice. The aim of this study is to comprehensively evaluate the effect of a virtual reality (VR)-based intervention on anxiety, stress, and pain levels in women undergoing colposcopy and to determine its efficacy compared to standard care.

Inclusion Criteria: Be 18 years of age or older, Have colposcopy scheduled due to a cervical cytology result of LSIL, HSIL, ASC-US, or HPV positivity, Be able to read and understand Turkish, Provide voluntary written informed consent - Exclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of a mental disorder Severe visual impairment, claustrophobia, cognitive impairment History of severe motion sickness (cybersickness) associated with virtual reality use Use of anxiolytic/analgesic medication prior to the procedure Individuals with severe cognitive impairment or communication difficulties \-