Purpose/objectives

To explore the use of virtual reality as a distraction intervention to relieve symptom distress in women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Design

Crossover study.

Setting

The outpatient clinic of a midwestern comprehensive cancer center.

Sample

20 women 18-55 years of age.

Methods

Using a crossover design, 20 subjects served as their own controls. For two matched chemotherapy treatments, one pretest and two post-test measures were employed. Participants were assigned randomly to receive the virtual reality distraction intervention during one chemotherapy treatment and received no distraction intervention (control condition) during an alternate chemotherapy treatment. An open-ended questionnaire elicited each subject's evaluation of the intervention.

Main research variables

Symptom distress, fatigue, anxiety.

Findings

Significant decreases in symptom distress and fatigue occurred immediately following chemotherapy treatments when women used the virtual reality intervention.

Conclusions

The distraction intervention decreased symptom distress, was well received, and was easy to implement in the clinical setting.

Implications for nursing

Nursing interventions to manage chemotherapy-related symptom distress can improve patient quality of life and increase chances for survival by reducing treatment-related symptom distress and enhancing patients' ability to adhere to treatment regimens and cope with their disease.