The Effect of Virtual Reality on Improving Biophysical Profile and State of Mind Among End-Stage Renal Disease Patients on Hemodialysis in Metro Manila, Philippines

Abstract

End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients frequently experienced disturbed activities of daily living (ADL) and functional health pattern affecting their biophysical profile and state of mind. The study aimed to determine the effect of Virtual Reality Exposure (VRE) intervention to manage anxiety of End-stage renal disease patients in terms of improvement of Biophysical Profile and State of Mind undergoing hemodialysis as part of nursing intervention. The study was conducted in a dialysis center in Las Pinas City and in a tertiary hospital in Paranaque City. The research utilized Pre-post Experimental design. Assessment survey (biophysical profile and anxiety) were collected pre and post VRE during hemodialysis treatment and were observed all throughout three (3) sessions. From Purposive convenience sampling, thirty-three (33) were included. Throughout the (3) sessions, biophysical profile was observed to decrease every after VRE where Systolic BP (137 vs 130/bpm, p = < .00001), Diastolic BP (84 vs 81/bpm, p =.00174), Heart rate (79 vs 77/bpm, p = .00089) and Respiration (20 vs 19/cpm, p = .00048). Anxiety level of participants were also improved from 42 (high anxiety) vs 28 (low anxiety) where p value is <.00001. All throughout the visits, “state of mind’’ shows a significant reduction in scores for statements of ‘’not relax’’, ‘’contented’’, ‘’calm’’ and ‘’feeling worried.’’ Results also showed that there was a correlation between person’s state of mind and BP, also with HR. Respiration was very weakly correlated to state of mind (r=0.04) but insignificant (p=.825). This study revealed that integration of VRE was effective in reducing anxiety for pre-post VRE exposure. In conclusion, integrating VRE visualization helped ESRD patients changed their outlook by keeping a calm and relax state all throughout hemodialysis.