Effect of Virtual Reality on Pain and Anxiety During Pap Smear Testing (NCT07462039) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Effect of Virtual Reality on Pain and Anxiety During Pap Smear Testing
60 participantsStarted 2026-03-10
Plain-language summary
This randomized controlled pretest-posttest experimental study aims to evaluate the effect of virtual reality (VR) on pain and anxiety levels experienced during Pap smear sampling. Although cervical cancer is largely preventable through regular screening, many women avoid Pap smear testing due to anxiety, fear of pain, and discomfort during gynecological examinations. Innovative, non-invasive interventions are needed to improve women's screening experiences and participation rates.
The study will be conducted in a gynecology outpatient clinic with 60 women aged 18-65 years who meet the inclusion criteria and provide informed consent. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group (VR headset during the procedure) or the control group (standard care). Women in the intervention group will watch a 360° relaxing nature video during the Pap smear procedure. Data will be collected using a Personal Information Form, the State Anxiety Inventory, and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The findings may support integrating VR into clinical practice to enhance patient comfort during screening procedures.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 65 Years
Sex
FEMALE
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Women aged 18-65 years
* Scheduled for a Pap smear procedure
* Able to communicate in Turkish
* Able to understand and complete the study questionnaires
* Willing to provide written informed consent
* No visual or hearing impairment preventing the use of a VR headset
Exclusion Criteria:
* History of severe motion sickness or vertigo
* Diagnosed psychiatric disorder affecting anxiety assessment
* Use of anxiolytic or sedative medication within 24 hours prior to the procedure
* Presence of acute pelvic pain or active vaginal infection
* Previous participation in this study
* Any condition preventing safe use of a VR headset
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This trial uses virtual reality during a Pap smear to try to reduce pain and anxiety — is that something my doctor thinks could realistically help in my case, or are there other comfort measures already available at my clinic that might work just as well?
2Since this trial isn't recruiting yet, how long might it be before I could even participate, and should I go ahead and schedule a standard Pap smear in the meantime rather than wait?
3The study is measuring both pain levels and state anxiety during the procedure — if I already struggle with significant anxiety around pelvic exams, is this kind of research setting the right environment for me, or could that add more stress?
4Because this trial is listed as Phase NA, meaning it's more of a behavioral or device study than a drug trial, what does my doctor think is already known about using virtual reality for procedural discomfort, and how does this study add to that?
5Who specifically is administering the VR intervention — is it nurses leading this, and does that change anything about the level of medical oversight I'd have during the procedure compared to my usual care?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Pain level during Pap smear procedure
Timeframe: Immediately after completion of the Pap smear procedure (within 5 minutes post-procedure).
2
State anxiety level
Timeframe: Immediately before the procedure and immediately after the procedure.