Debika, Das (2017) Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Therapy upon Symptomatic Distress among Cancer Patients. Masters thesis, Apollo College of Nursing, Chennai.
|
Text
300112817debika_das.pdf Download (4MB) | Preview |
Abstract
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM : An Experimental Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Therapy upon Symptomatic Distress among Cancer Patients in Selected Hospital, Chennai. OBJECTIVES OF THIS STUDY : 1. To assess the level of pain and stress among control and experimental group of cancer patients before and after the virtual reality therapy. 2. To determine the effectiveness of virtual reality therapy by comparing the pre test and post test scores of pain and stress in control and experimental group of cancer patients. 3. To determine the level of satisfaction of experimental group of cancer patients on virtual reality therapy. 4. To determine the correlation between pain and stress scores in the control and experimental group of cancer patients. 5. To find out the association between selected demographic variables and level of pain and stress in the control and experimental group of cancer patients after the virtual reality therapy. 6. To find out the association between selected clinical variables and level of pain and stress in the control and experimental group of cancer patients after the virtual reality therapy. An extensive review of literature was made based on the opinions of the experts. The conceptual frame work adopted for present study is based on “Sister Callista Roy’s Adaptation Model” (1981) which addresses the process of action, reaction, interaction whereby clients share information about their perceptions. METHODS : The variables selected for this study were the level of pain and stress of cancer patients. Null hypotheses were formulated. The present study is of Quasi experimental design. The Study was conducted at Apollo Cancer Hospital, Teynampet, Chennai. A total of 60 cancer patients who met the inclusion criteria were selected using purposive sampling. Cancer patients were divided into control and experimental group with each group containing 30 members. The various tools used by the researcher were, Demographic Variable Proforma, Clinical Variable Proforma, Cohen et al’s. Perceived Stress Scale, McCaffery-Beebe Numeric Pain Rating Scale, and Level of Satisfaction Rating Scale. Validity was obtained from experts and reliability was established using the test- retest method. The main study was conducted after the pilot study. Data was collected for a period of 6 weeks on selected cancer patients. A pretest was done to assess the level of pain and stress of control group of cancer patients. The control group of patients received the regular treatment including chemotherapy and on the third day, the level of stress and pain was assessed again. This was followed by the period of data collection for the experimental group of cancer patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The study participants in the experimental group received virtual reality therapy for 15-20 minutes consecutively for 3 days in addition to the regular treatment including chemotherapy. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. On the whole virtual reality therapy was found to be effective. MAJOR FINDINGS OF THE STUDY : • Study findings revealed that one third of the cancer patients in the control group were in the age group of 30-40 years (36.66%) and 50-60 years (33.33%) in the experimental group respectively. Most of the cancer patients in the control group were males (56.66%) and females (63%) in the experimental group respectively. Most of the cancer patients (43.33%) were higher secondary passed in the control group and graduates in the experimental group (33.33%). • The clinical profile of cancer patients has shown that majority of them in the control group (73.33%) and the experimental group (76%) had illness for duration of 1-5 yrs. A majority of the cancer patients in the control group (83.33%) were on medication for major illnesses whereas in the experimental group the majority of the cancer patients (73.33%) were not on any medication for any major illnesses. A majority of the cancer patients in the control group (43.33%) and the experimental group (53.33%) had a history of hospitalization for 1-2 times within the last five years. Most of the cancer patients in the control (56.66%) and the experimental groups (50%) were undergoing chemotherapy, radiation therapy and a combined treatment approach. Most of the cancer patients in the control (93.33%) and the experimental group (93.33%) had never used any stress relaxation therapy before. • Findings also revealed that in the control group 43.3% & 40% of them had severe pain in pretest and posttest respectively. • The level of pain was severe in the experimental group of cancer patients (60%) before the therapy and the pain was mild (53%) after the therapy. None of them complained of severe pain (0%) after the therapy. • The study findings showed that equal numbers of cancer patients were having a moderate and high level of stress before the therapy (50%, 50%) in the control group whereas during the post assessment the stress level was high for the majority of the cancer patients (66.66%). • A majority of the cancer patients in the experimental group (73.33%) had high level of stress before the therapy and a low level of stress (66.66%) after the therapy. • The findings denote that there was no difference in pain scores between pre and post test in the control group whereas in the experimental group there was a statistically significant difference in pain scores between pretest (M=6.5, SD=2.09) and post test (M= 1.76, SD=18.84) at p<0.001. • Findings also showed that there was no difference in stress scores between pre and post test in the control group whereas in the experimental group there was a statistically significant difference in stress scores between pretest (M=25.96, SD=7.54) and post test (M= 11.7, SD=3.32) at p<0.001. • Findings also revealed that there is no statistically significant difference in the pretest scores of pain and stress between the control and the experimental group. There is a statistically significant difference in posttest score of pain in the control group (M=6.16, SD=2.93) and the experimental group (M=1.6, SD=1.76) with ‘t’ value of 7.40 at p<0.01. The comparison of post scores of stress of patient in the control group (M=26.23, SD=7.00) and the experimental group (M=3.32, SD=2.77) also shows a statistically significant difference with ‘t’ value of 2.77 at p<0.001. • It was inferred from the analysis that majority of the cancer patients (96.66%) were highly satisfied with the virtual reality therapy. • From the analysis it was revealed that there was a positive correlation between pain and stress in the control group of cancer patients (r=0.79) and low correlation between pain and stress of experimental group of cancer patients (r= 0.02). • There was no significant association between selected demographic variables and level of pain and stress among the control and the experimental group of cancer patients after VR therapy. • There was no significant association between selected clinical variables and level of pain and stress among control and experimental group of cancer patients after VR therapy. RECOMMENDATIONS : • The same study may be conducted on a larger number of cancer patients. • The same study can be conducted among various groups like patients suffering from long term illnesses, students, or workers of different settings. • The same study can be conducted in different settings. • The same study can be conducted using a true experimental design. • The same study can be conducted using other different forms of virtual goggle or oculus rift. • A comparative study can be done using usual relaxation techniques and virtual reality therapy to assess the stress level among various groups. • A comparative study can be done between virtual reality therapy and the usual anti-anxietic and/ or analgesic medications to see the effectiveness. • A comparative study can be done between the virtual reality therapy and other forms of stress relaxation and pain management strategies available like music therapy, meditation and yoga. • Study may be conducted to assess the level of knowledge of family members in identifying symptomatic distress among cancer patient and the various strategies to control the symptoms. • Study may be conducted to assess the level of knowledge of nurses in identifying symptomatic distress among cancer patient and the various strategies to control the symptoms. • The same study may be conducted on stress levels of caregivers among family members of cancer patients.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Effectiveness ; Virtual Reality Therapy ; Symptomatic Distress ; Cancer Patients. |
| Subjects: | NURSING > Medical Surgical Nursing |
| Depositing User: | Kambaraman B |
| Date Deposited: | 26 Feb 2018 17:02 |
| Last Modified: | 26 Feb 2018 17:02 |
| URI: | http://repository-tnmgrmu.ac.in/id/eprint/5877 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
