The Effect of Virtual Reality Glasses on Fetal Movement

One of the parameters used in the evaluation of fetal health during pregnancy is the Non-Stress Test (NST). When a healthy fetus moves, the oxygen requirement increases, the fetus increases the cardiac output to meet this requirement, and this is reflected in the trace as acceleration. Increased fetal heart rate during fetal movements; Adequate oxygenation, healthy transmission between the fetal central nervous system and the heart, and the ability of the fetus to respond to stimuli indicate fetal well-being (4, 23). This physiological response of the fetus is evaluated with the Non-Stress Test. The best result of this test is between 30-32 days of pregnancy when the fetal central nervous system development is completed. It is applied starting from these weeks in order to evaluate fetal health in routine pregnancy follow-ups (4). The results of the Non-Stress test are evaluated under two headings: Reactive (negative) and non-reactive (positive) NST. 1) Reactive (Negative) Non-Stress Test: At least two fetal movements within 20 minutes, fetal heart rate (FKA) being more than 15 beats (increase) than basal fetal heart rate in parallel with the movements, and accelerations lasting more than 15 seconds (fetal heart rate increases). 2) Non-reactive (Positive) Non-Stress Test: It is the situation in which there are accelerations (fetal heart rate increases) that are less than 15 beats and last less than 15 seconds despite the absence of fetal movements or fetal movements (4). The expected result in a healthy fetus is the Reactive (Negative) Non-Stress Test result. In the study of one it was found that 95% of the pregnant women were followed up for NST in the antepartum period (18).

The results of the Non-Stress test; Variables in the external environment (such as maternal abdominal palpation, voice, and fetal sleep) may affect the procedure (4). In the literature, it has been reported that some practices such as listening to music while applying the Non-Stress test, relaxation exercises and relaxation training increase the Reactive (Negative) Non-Stress Test result expected in fetal well-being, increase the average number of accelerations, and cause a significant decrease in the level of anxiety in pregnant women (1,3,6,12,13,19,21-25). It was reported that the mean number of accelerations was 8.9±3.9 in pregnant women who were listened to music during NST application, and 4.3±3.2 in pregnant women who were not listened to. Again, in this study, NST results were reported as reactive in 98.0% of pregnant women who were listened to music and 66% of those who were not listened to (6). Similarly, while Küçükkelepçe and Timur Taşhan's (2018) average number of accelerations while listening to music was 2.14 ± 1.12, the average number of accelerations in the control group was 1.29 ± 1.09. reported (19). In addition, in the study of In the study of one in which they examined the effect of relaxation training on the reactivity of NST, they reported that the rate of reactive NST in relaxation training was 53.2%, while the rate of non-reactive NST was 46.8% (1). Based on these studies in the literature, it is seen that these practices within the scope of midwifery care practices have an effect on the NST results. In recent years, virtual reality glasses application as one of these applications has taken its place in the literature. Although virtual reality glasses technology is a device, it has been widely used in the medical field in hospitals. When the literature is examined, it is seen that virtual reality glasses reduce the level of anxiety and reduce the perception of fatigue level (20, 7, 10, 11). In the literature, in a meta-analysis study on the effectiveness of VR glasses on pain and anxiety in pediatric patients undergoing medical procedures, it was reported to be effective in reducing anxiety (SMD = 1.32; 95% CI, 0.21-2.44; P = .020) (29). In another meta-analysis, it is seen that virtual reality glasses are effective in reducing pre-operative anxiety (30) Again,one in the study of It has been reported that they have pre-anxiety anxiety and that virtual reaIn the study of onelity glasses can be a potential tool to provide low perception of fatigue levels (20).