1. Virtual Reality as a Method to Cope With Labor Pain: What Do Women Want?
- Author
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Van Leugenhaege L, Van de Craen N, Maes K, Vanden Bergh L, Timmerman K, Van Aken S, Mestdagh E, and Kuipers YJ
- Subjects
- Humans, Female, Pregnancy, Adult, Labor, Obstetric psychology, Labor Pain therapy, Labor Pain psychology, Focus Groups, Virtual Reality, Qualitative Research, Pain Management methods
- Abstract
This study aimed to determine what childbearing women want when using virtual reality as an intrapartum pain management method. Researchers performed a qualitative exploratory study using content analysis. Two focus groups were organized including pregnant women anticipating a vaginal birth and women who recently had given birth, no longer than 6 months ago. The focus groups included a 30-minute virtual reality demo. In total, 10 women participated. Five themes emerged: (1) "try, test and explore": the need to receive information and to get acquainted with virtual reality during the antenatal period; (2) "variety and diversity in physical and digital options": the preference for a variety in virtual content and view virtual reality as a complementary method to methods for intrapartum pain management; (3) "distraction versus focus": virtual reality as a method to distract from pain, from the clinical context or to help them focus; (4) "comfort both physical and digital": measures to ensure a comfortable physical and virtual experience; and (5) "birthing partner": the potential need to include partners. This study is an essential step informing the development, implementation, and research of labor-specific virtual reality and informing antenatal healthcare providers when offering women virtual reality as intrapartum pain management., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)
- Published
- 2024
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