An interventional study of Virtual Reality (VR) Visual Relaxation - Single Session and Virtual Reality (VR) Visual Relaxation - Three Sessions in Pregnancy, Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy (NVP) and Sleep Quality, sponsored by Filiz Keskin. Enrolling by invitation at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 49 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-06.
Sponsored by Filiz Keskin · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This study aims to evaluate the effect of a virtual reality (VR)-based visual relaxation intervention on nausea and vomiting severity, sleep quality, and comfort in pregnant women. Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms during pregnancy and may negatively affect women's quality of life and overall well-being. Non-pharmacological interventions such as VR-based relaxation may provide a safe and effective alternative to improve these symptoms.
In this randomized controlled study, pregnant women will be assigned to either an intervention group receiving VR-based relaxation or a control group receiving standard care. The outcomes will be assessed using validated measurement tools for nausea and vomiting severity, sleep quality, and comfort. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to improving maternal comfort and supporting non-invasive care approaches during pregnancy.
Pregnancy is a period marked by significant physiological changes in a woman's body. Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) are common experiences during this time, particularly in the first trimester, affecting a large proportion of pregnant women and often impairing quality of life. Symptoms typically emerge between the 4th and 7th weeks of gestation and usually subside by the 12th-14th weeks, although they may persist into later stages in some cases. While mild NVP is generally self-limiting, moderate to severe forms can result in fluid and electrolyte imbalances, malnutrition, decreased work capacity, and, in severe cases, hospitalization. Hyperemesis gravidarum, the most severe form of NVP, is relatively rare but can lead to significant maternal morbidity.
The impact of NVP extends beyond physical discomfort. It can increase stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, leading to considerable psychosocial distress. Limitations in daily activities, disruption of nutritional intake and sleep patterns, and reduced functional capacity further compromise overall pregnancy comfort.
Although pharmacological interventions such as vitamin B6, doxylamine, antihistamines, metoclopramide, and ondansetron are commonly used to manage NVP, some pregnant women may decline these treatments due to concerns regarding teratogenicity, potential effects on fetal development, or personal preferences. Consequently, there is a growing need for safe, non-pharmacological interventions that can effectively alleviate NVP symptoms.
Pregnancy comfort encompasses both physical and psychological dimensions of well-being. Physical comfort includes relief from pain, fatigue, dizziness, and gastrointestinal discomfort, whereas psychological comfort refers to reductions in anxiety, depressive symptoms, and pregnancy-related fears. Disturbances in either domain can significantly affect overall quality of life during pregnancy.
In recent years, digital health technologies have emerged as promising tools for supporting maternal health, particularly in out-of-hospital settings. Virtual Reality (VR) is one such technology that immerses users in a simulated sensory environment, providing distraction from symptoms and promoting relaxation. VR has been successfully applied in various clinical contexts, including pain management, anxiety reduction, labor relaxation, and control of nausea in chemotherapy patients. By redirecting attention away from discomfort, VR facilitates both psychological and physiological relaxation.
Studies investigating VR interventions often employ nature-themed visual content accompanied by soothing auditory stimuli, such as water or bird sounds. These interventions have been associated with reductions in stress hormone levels, improved heart rate and respiratory regulation, and activation of the parasympathetic nervous system. The resulting decreases in cortisol, increased subjective relaxation, and attenuation of stress-related gastrointestinal effects provide a plausible mechanistic basis for VR's effectiveness.
Research specifically examining VR's effects on NVP severity and pregnancy comfort is limited. Most existing evidence comes from chemotherapy or postoperative populations. Nevertheless, current literature suggests that VR is highly effective in promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety, indicating its potential utility in alleviating NVP symptoms during pregnancy.
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of a VR-based visual relaxation intervention on NVP severity, sleep quality, and overall pregnancy comfort. Participants will engage in daily sessions featuring nature-themed VR visual and musical content. The severity of nausea and vomiting will be assessed using the Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea (PUQE-24) scale, sleep quality will be measured with the Richard-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ), and overall comfort will be evaluated using the General Comfort Scale.
This study introduces a novel, non-pharmacological, technology-based intervention for managing NVP. The accessibility, low cost, and ease of implementation of VR make it a promising approach for both individual and population-level maternal health support. Its non-invasive nature and absence of side effects render it suitable for use during pregnancy, potentially improving adherence and satisfaction. By addressing a gap in the literature, this research aims to strengthen the evidence base for VR interventions and support their integration into prenatal care guidelines.
644 studies on the registry are indexed under Nausea; 85 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 90 is close to the median of 96 across 544 interventional studies indexed under Nausea.
Browse Nausea studies →This is the only study on the registry with Filiz Keskin as lead sponsor.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants in this group will receive a single session of virtual reality (VR)-based visual relaxation. The intervention will last approximately 15 minutes and will be provided in addition to standard antenatal care.
Behavioral: Virtual Reality (VR) Visual Relaxation - Single Session
Participants in this group will receive three sessions of virtual reality (VR)-based visual relaxation, administered every other day. Each session will last approximately 15 minutes, in addition to standard antenatal care.
Behavioral: Virtual Reality (VR) Visual Relaxation - Three Sessions
Pregnant women in this group will receive routine antenatal care without any additional intervention.
Participants will receive one session of virtual reality (VR)-based visual relaxation lasting approximately 15 minutes. The session will be administered in addition to standard antenatal care and is designed to promote relaxation, reduce nausea and vomiting severity, improve sleep quality, and enhance comfort during pregnancy.
Also known as: VR Relaxation, Virtual Reality Relaxation, VR-based Visual Relaxation, Virtual Reality (VR)
Participants will receive three sessions of virtual reality (VR)-based visual relaxation, each lasting approximately 15 minutes and administered every other day. The intervention will be provided in addition to standard antenatal care and is designed to promote relaxation, reduce nausea and vomiting severity, improve sleep quality, and enhance comfort during pregnancy.
Also known as: VR Relaxation, Virtual Reality Relaxation, VR-based Visual Relaxation
Overall Comfort Scale (GCQ)
The scale can be administered using two different Likert types: a four-point scale and a six-point scale. Both forms have the same number of items, totaling 48 questions. In this research, the four-point Likert type was preferred for ease of use. The scale evaluates comfort levels in three dimensions: relief (16 items), relaxation (17 items), and coping with problems (15 items). Items consist of both positive and negative statements, the response order is mixed, and negative items are reverse-coded for scoring. A high score (4) on positive items indicates higher comfort, while a low score (1) indicates lower comfort. The highest possible total score on the scale is 192, and the lowest is 48. The total score is divided by the number of items to calculate the average value, and the result is evaluated between 1 and 4. Accordingly, low comfort is represented by one point, and high comfort by four points. The reliability coefficient of the scale was found to be 0.88 in the original study.
Time frame: Baseline and 24 hours after each session during the study period
Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea (PUQE) Scale
The PUQE scale is designed to measure the severity of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. It consists of three questions measuring the duration of nausea and the frequency of vomiting in the past 24 hours using a five-point Likert scale. Each question is scored between 1 and 5 points, with a total score of 3 to 15. A score of 3 indicates no nausea, 4-6 points mild, 7-12 points moderate, and ≥13 points severe nausea and vomiting.
Time frame: Baseline and 24 hours after each session during the study period
Richard Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) Scale
The scale consists of 6 items that assess the depth of nighttime sleep, time to fall asleep, frequency of awakenings, duration of wakefulness upon waking, sleep quality, and ambient noise level. Each item is evaluated on a visual analog scale ranging from 0 to 100. A score of "0-25" indicates very poor sleep, while a score of "76-100" indicates very good sleep. The total score is evaluated based on 5 items; the 6th item, which assesses ambient noise level, is excluded from the total score evaluation. As the scale score increases, the patients' sleep quality also improves.
Time frame: Baseline and 24 hours after each session during the study period
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
No contact was published for this record. The registry link below has the sponsor’s details.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.