Patient Satisfaction and Tolerability Using Virtual Reality (VR) as Adjunctive Treatment During Flexible Bronchoscopy

Overview

Flexible bronchoscopy is an important procedure used worldwide in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease of the of the lungs and airways . Flexible bronchoscopy is an invasive procedure that is utilized to visualize the nasal passages, pharynx, larynx, vocal cords, and tracheal bronchial tree. It is utilized for both the diagnosis and treatment of lung disorders. The procedure may be performed in an endoscopy suite, the operating room, the emergency department, a radiology suite, or at the bedside in the ICU. Flexible bronchoscopy (FB) is a safe procedure widely used in the management of patients with respiratory diseases. FB has close to zero mortality, and major complications are also very rare. Besides being safe and accurate, the comfort of the patient during the procedure is of primary concern of the medical and endoscopy staff. Flexible Bronchoscopy can be a frightening and painful experience for the patient. There is room to improve the management of pain during FB, as many patients experience pain despite the common use of premedication analgesics and sedatives. In addition, because. these medications have side effects, including respiratory depression and cardiovascular instability, it would be useful to develop nonpharmacologic approaches to improving the patient experience with painful procedures. The use of less medication may speed recovery from the procedure and facilitate the timely discharge of patients from the hospital. Nonpharmacologic practices, such as guided imagery, hypnosis, and distraction, have been effective in improving patient experiences during stressful or painful medical procedures. Distraction therapy is a technique in which sensory stimuli are provided to patients in order to divert their attention from an unpleasant experience. The use of nature scenes and sounds is an effective tool for distraction and has been successful in a variety of patient settings, including perioperative care, phlebotomy, and burn care. The benefit of nonpharmacologic approaches to analgesia during FB, however, has not been evaluated adequately. A visual reality (VR) device is an apparatus with a head up display (HUD) that projects a video and contains sound, the device is aimed to replace the patient's natural environment with virtual reality content. The use of Virtual reality(VR) device during flexible bronchoscopy has not been studies before.

PROBLEM STATEMENT In Malaysia, flexible bronchoscopy has been well established in many respiratory centers as a means of diagnosis and treatment for many respiratory diseases, however there not many studies into use of nonpharmacological methods of improving patients experience during bronchoscopy. The use of conventional analgesia and sedation is considered standard of care during flexible bronchoscopy. In Respiratory centers, and our own center, Pusat Perubatan UKM (PPUKM), bronchoscopists use fentanyl and midazolam routinely as a means of analgesia during flexible bronchoscopy. There has not been research into the use of Virtual reality (VR) as a method of distraction to reduce anxiety and improve satisfaction in patient undergoing bronchoscopy. Investigators aim to carry out a randomize control trial, to study and compare the use Virtual Reality (VR) device in subjects undergoing flexible bronchoscopy. There are many parameters which the investigators will be looking into, the first will be overall subject's satisfaction with bronchoscope. Investigators will also compare parameter such as anxiety levels during the procedure, pain, cough and also breathlessness. RESEARCH QUESTION Can VR (Virtual reality) device be used to improve satisfaction, reduce anxiety, pain cough and breathlessness for patients undergoing flexible bronchoscopy HYPOTHESIS VR device can improve patient's satisfaction of flexible bronchoscopy by using methods of distraction. VR device can reduce patient's anxiety during flexible bronchoscopy. VR device can reduce patient's pain during flexible bronchoscopy. VR device can reduce patient's cough during flexible bronchoscopy. VR device can reduce patient's breathlessness during flexible bronchoscopy. OBJECTIVE General To compare satisfaction and tolerability of patients undergoing flexible bronchoscopy with or without VR (virtual reality). Specific To compare pain score between patients with or without VR (virtual reality) before and after flexible bronchoscopy To compare Breathlessness score between patient with or without VR (virtual reality) before and after flexible bronchoscopy To compare severity of cough between patient with or without VR (virtual reality) before and after flexible bronchoscopy To compare anxiety between patient with or without VR (virtual reality) before and after flexible bronchoscopy SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH To determine new methods of audio-visual distraction as a method to increase patient satisfaction and tolerability of flexible bronchoscopy. To determine if VR is a suitable to be used in the future for all patient undergoing Flexible Bronchoscopy. This is a prospective interventional study conducted on patients undergoing flexible bronchoscopy under the Respiratory Unit, Department of Internal Medicine in UKMMC, who qualified both the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All eligible patients will be briefed about this study. Subsequently, consent will be obtained from those who are agreeing to participate, from the patient him/herself. The process of briefing and obtaining consent will be done prior to bronchoscopy when patient is in the waiting room. The patient will be randomized into 2 groups by block randomization 1:1(simple randomization), one undergoing flexible bronchoscopy with the VR device on, they will be shown a video consisting of calming nature scene together with soothing instrumental music. The other groups will undergo bronchoscopy without any device on Both groups will be given a questionnaire to assess pain, dyspnea and cough using a 10-point Visual analogue scale (VAS), ranging from 0 (no bother) to 10 (worst intolerable level) to determine a pre procedural baseline. Both groups of patients will be given the same amounts of sedation of midazolam 1 to 2 mg, with a supplemental 1-2mg midazolam and titrating dose of fentanyl from 12.5mg upwards. The interventional arm will be given the VR device to be worn 10 minutes before the procedure and will continue until the procedure is completed. Both groups of patients will be given another VAS questionnaire to assess pain, dyspnea, and cough during the procedure. The patient will also be given the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire together with a satisfaction questionnaire, all of which to be answered 24 hours after the procedure to minimize any potential amnestic effect of the sedation given. The questionnaire and collection of data will not in any way interfere with the bronchoscopy procedure. Both groups with not differ in terms of standard of care during bronchoscopy. The VR device will be sanitized before every use using alcohol wipes so that the risk of infection will be minimized and users will be given disposable hygiene cover. Standard Operating Procedure for COVID-19, for bronchoscopy. Firstly for the patient: a. Triaging of patients before entering bronchoscopy suite to be performed by medical staff. b. Patient and/or caregiver to scan My Sejahtera/ fill up screening and declaration form c. Ensuring patients to wear face mask. d. Ensuring patients to sanitize their hands using provided hand sanitizer. e. Temperature check. f. Suspected COVID-19 patients are directed to designated COVID-19 screening area. g. Practice of physical distancing of at least 1 meter among patients. h. All patient planned for bronchoscopy should have a Covid-19 Rapid antigen test kit (RTK) or reserve transcriptase polymerase chair reaction (RT-PCR) done at least 24-78hrs before bronchoscopy. For the Bronchoscopy staff: a. All patients undergoing aerosol generating procedure (AGP) require thorough clinical assessment and COVID-19 diagnostic tests via RT-PCR for nasopharyngeal/ throat swabs as per local hospital protocols. Screening for other type of operation to be done if necessary. b. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) should be worn in the ward for examination or procedures as stated for outpatient services. c. endoscopy and bronchoscopy should not be performed during the COVID-19 pandemic unless there is an absolute need for it. d. Rigid and flexible scope should be done in a designated procedure room to limit exposure to other staffs and patients. e. Appropriate PPE is to be worn for all procedure. f. Non-disposable equipment used during this procedure should be appropriately wrapped and covered to avoid virus contaminations. g. Sterilization of instruments and equipment used during the procedure is done according to infection control protocol. Discard all disposables accordingly. For Aerosol Generating Procedures (AGPs). a. All procedures and surgeries should be performed while observing appropriate protective measures (PPE) in line with universal airborne, droplet and contact precautions. b. Procedures to be performed in designated COVID-19 operating theatre (OT) and ideally with negative pressure OT. c. All patients undergoing AGP require thorough clinical assessment and COVID-19 diagnostic tests via RT-PCR for nasopharyngeal/ throat swabs as per local hospital protocols. COVID-19 test for other type of operation to be done if necessary. d. If patient is not intubated, a surgical mask should be offered to the patient to wear at all times.