Effects of Virtual Reality Application on Pain, Anxiety, and Patient Satisfaction in Dressing Patients With Pressure Sores

Pressure ulcers are serious and costly wounds that typically develop as a result of impaired blood flow in tissues exposed to prolonged pressure. They are particularly at risk in the elderly, critically ill patients, and individuals with limited mobility. Pain and anxiety during dressing applications for pressure ulcers can negatively impact patient comfort and compliance. There are limited studies in the literature on the use of nonpharmacological methods to reduce pain and anxiety during the dressing process for pressure ulcers. Virtual reality (VR) applications stand out as an effective method for managing pain and anxiety by providing distraction. However, existing studies generally cover all chronic wounds and lack specific research on the use of VR during the dressing process in individuals with pressure ulcers. Therefore, the proposed study aims to examine the effects of VR application during dressing on pain, anxiety, and patient satisfaction in patients with pressure ulcers and aims to make an original contribution to the literature.