Virtual Reality to Reduce Labor Pain

Background and Goal of Study Labor pain remains an area where different analgesia options are looked for, more specifically non-pharmacological remedies are popular. Hypnosis and virtual reality (VR) have been studied with encouraging results. However, until now, the combination of VR and hypnosis (VRH) has not been assessed during labor, although it has shown promising results in other acute pain areas. The VRH4L study will evaluate the efficacy of Virtual Reality Hypnosis (VRH) in reducing pain during labor. Hypnosis is delivered as a standardized therapeutic intervention through virtual reality, using a digital sedation software (AQUA ®, Oncomfort SA). For this prospective, interventional parallel group, monocentric randomized controlled trial full term women who were planned for an induction of labor at the St-Jean Hospital in Brussels from March to May 2021 were included. Women with complicated pregnancies and patients with contraindications to VR were excluded. Patients were randomized in two arms. In the VRH group the patients received a 30-minute session of virtual reality hypnosis when in active labor and had access to standard care. Patients in the control group received only standard care. Primary outcome was the difference in post intervention pain score between the two arms. Secondary outcomes were the difference in pain score 30 minutes after the intervention, vital signs correlated to pain, satisfaction of the experience, interaction with the midwife and prevalence of side effects. Data was analyzed using the student\'s T test.