Virtual Reality During Coronary Angiography: Effects on Pain and Anxiety

Coronary angiography is one of the most frequently performed invasive cardiac diagnostic procedures. Although the procedure is performed under local anesthesia, patients remain conscious throughout, and procedural pain and anxiety are commonly reported. Non-pharmacological interventions to manage these symptoms are increasingly being explored as adjuncts to standard care. Virtual reality (VR) is an immersive technology that engages the user's visual and auditory senses, potentially distracting patients from procedural discomfort. This randomized controlled trial examined the effect of VR on pain and anxiety in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography. Patients were randomized into two groups using a sealed envelope method. The VR group watched a pre-selected nature-themed video through a VR headset throughout the procedure. The control group received standard care without any additional intervention. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and anxiety was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before and after the procedure. The study was conducted at a cardiology unit in Istanbul, Turkey, and was approved by the institutional ethics committee (Approval No: 2019-84). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to enrollment.