Examination of the effects of virtual reality glasses and stress ball applications on pain, vital signs, anxiety, fear, satisfaction, and comfort levels during the dressing changes in patients who underwent abdominal surgery

Key Takeaways for GI Nurses

• Non-pharmacological interventions like virtual reality and stress balls can effectively reduce pain, anxiety, and fear during post-surgical dressing changes, offering evidence-based alternatives to complement traditional pain management protocols
• These distraction techniques may improve patient satisfaction and comfort levels during routine post-operative care procedures, potentially enhancing the overall patient experience in GI units
• Virtual reality and stress ball interventions demonstrated positive effects on vital sign stability during dressing changes, suggesting these methods may help maintain physiological homeostasis during uncomfortable procedures
• Implementation of simple, cost-effective distraction tools could be easily integrated into existing post-operative care workflows without requiring significant staffing changes or extensive training

Clinical Relevance

Post-operative dressing changes represent a significant source of patient distress in gastroenterology and endoscopy units, particularly following abdominal procedures. This research provides valuable evidence for GI nurses seeking to optimize patient comfort during routine post-surgical care. The findings suggest that incorporating virtual reality glasses and stress balls into standard dressing change procedures can meaningfully reduce patient pain perception, anxiety levels, and procedural fear while simultaneously improving satisfaction scores. These outcomes are particularly relevant for GI nurses who frequently manage patients recovering from endoscopic procedures, laparoscopic interventions, or open abdominal surgeries where dressing changes are routine components of care.

From an operational perspective, these interventions offer practical advantages for busy endoscopy and GI units. Unlike pharmacological approaches that require physician orders, monitoring for side effects, and careful timing considerations, virtual reality and stress ball techniques can be nurse-initiated and implemented immediately when needed. The positive impact on vital signs suggests these methods may also reduce the physiological stress response associated with dressing changes, potentially contributing to better overall recovery outcomes. For nursing professional development, this research supports the growing body of evidence around integrative, patient-centered approaches to procedural comfort, aligning with current healthcare trends emphasizing holistic care delivery.

The implications extend beyond individual patient encounters to unit-wide quality metrics. Improved patient satisfaction scores related to pain management and overall comfort can positively impact hospital consumer ratings and regulatory compliance measures. Additionally, calmer, more comfortable patients during dressing changes may require less nursing time per encounter, allowing for more efficient workflow management in high-volume GI units where nurses often juggle multiple competing priorities throughout their shifts.

Bottom Line

This study demonstrates that simple, accessible distraction techniques like virtual reality glasses and stress balls can significantly improve the dressing change experience for post-surgical abdominal patients by reducing pain, anxiety, and fear while enhancing satisfaction and comfort levels. For GI nurses, this evidence supports incorporating these low-cost, non-pharmacological interventions into standard post-operative care protocols as an effective way to improve patient outcomes and potentially streamline nursing workflows during routine procedures.