Comparison Between Virtual Reality and Stress Ball Intervention In Managing Pain During Episiotomy Repair

University of Baghdad112 enrolled

Overview

This study is a four-arm randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for pain management during episiotomy repair among women undergoing vaginal birth. Participants will be allocated to one of four groups: virtual reality, stress ball, combined virtual reality plus stress ball, or control. The virtual reality intervention is intended to provide immersive distraction, while the stress ball offers tactile distraction; the combined group receives both interventions simultaneously. The control group receives routine care only. The primary outcome is pain intensity measured during the procedure using the Visual Analog Scale. Outcome data will be compared across groups to identify the most effective intervention for reducing pain during episiotomy repair. This study may provide evidence for practical, safe, and low-cost supportive strategies that can improve maternal comfort during childbirth procedures.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

112

Conditions

Perineal Pain

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 42 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria 1. Women aged 18 to 42 years 2. Able to communicate and understand the study procedures 3. No vision, hearing, or perception problems 4. No physical problems preventing squeezing a stress ball 5. No diabetes mellitus 6. Undergoing episiotomy repair after vaginal birth 7. Willing to participate and provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria 1. Pre-existing chronic pain conditions 2. Severe perineal tear (3rd or 4th degree) 3. Development of any complication during the procedure 4. Women who did not consent to participate in the study 5. Women undergoing episiotomy repair with local anesthetic infiltration

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Pain intensity measured using the Visual Analog Scale

Pain intensity during episiotomy repair will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale 0 to 10 scale, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst pain possible. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity. Pain scores will be compared cross the virtual reality, stress ball, combined virtual reality plus stress ball, and control groups

Time frame: Periprocedural