The Effect of Immersive Virtual Reality and Relaxing Videos on Symptom Severity, Distress and Quality of Life in Patients With Lung Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy
Lung cancer is one of the types of cancer with a high incidence and mortality rate in the world and in our country. Frequently used protocols in the chemotherapy treatment of lung cancer are the Platine-based drugs. The main side effects of this chemotherapy protocols are nausea, vomiting, neutropenia and fatigue. The side effects of cancer and chemotherapy cause patients to experience distress and their quality of life is adversely affected. Some non-pharmacological methods such as meditation, breathing exercises, and massage can be used to manage the symptoms experienced by patients due to chemotherapy for supportive care. One of these methods is the virtual reality applications. In addition, audio-visual (video) therapy methods are other methods that can be used in the symptom management of these patients. In this study, the effect of interactive/imersive virtual reality intervention and relaxant video intervention on symptom severity, distress level and quality of life of patients diagnosed with lung cancer will be evaluated. Patients will be assigned to 3 groups: virtual reality intervention group (VR), relaxant video application group (RV) and control group (CG) by stratified randomization according to the disease stage and dryg type. During the chemotherapy treatment, the patients will take interactive/immersibe virtual reality (VR group) or relaxant video application (RV group) consisting of nature-themed scenarios. The interventions will be done 2 times and about 20 minutes in the first day of each chemotherapy cycles, in total 2 cycles. The control group will receive routine nursing care. Research data will be collected at different intervals during the chemotherapy course with the Patient Information Form (only once), the Edmonton Symptom Diagnosis Scale, the NCCN Distress Thermometer, the European Cancer Treatment and Organization Committee Quality of Life Scale and the Patient Follow-up Form and will be analyzed with the IBM SPSS v.23 program.
• are over 18 years old,
• diagnosed with lung cancer,
• will receive chemotherapy for the first time,
• will receive at least 2 cycles of chemotherapy treatment
• agree to participate in the study,