Research Article

The effect of immersive virtual reality and music on anxiety, fear, and pain during circumcision surgery in children: a randomized controlled study

Volume: 8 Number: 5 September 16, 2025
TR EN

The effect of immersive virtual reality and music on anxiety, fear, and pain during circumcision surgery in children: a randomized controlled study

Abstract

Aims: Circumcision is a surgical procedure that causes pain, anxiety, and fear in children. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (IVR) and music on anxiety, fear, and pain levels of children during circumcision surgery. Methods: This randomized controlled trial included boys aged 6-8 years who were circumcised at a university hospital between September 2022 and July 2023. Using stratified block randomization, the sample group’s children were split into three groups: music (n=24), IVR (n=24), and control group (n=24). The Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale, the Children’s Anxiety Meter Scale, the Children’s Fear Scale, and a Participant Information Form were used to gather the data. Descriptive statistics, t tests, analysis of variance and Duncan and Bonferroni adjustments were used to examine the data. Results: Children in the IVR and music groups experienced much less worry and dread during and after circumcision than those in the control group. The mean pain scores of the experimental groups during and after circumcision were significantly lower than those of the control group. Fear, anxiety, and pain levels were significantly different in the IVR group compared to the other groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: Children’s anxiety, fear, and pain levels were successfully decreased by the use of IVR and music interventions during the circumcision operation. Health professionals, nurses, can use effective nonpharmacological strategies, such as music and IVR, to manage fear, anxiety and pain associated with surgical procedures in children.

Keywords

Project Number

22.GENEL.038 (BAP Project)

Ethical Statement

The ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Protocol No: 2022/9),

Thanks

The authors thank all the children and parents involved in this study. We would like to thank the hospital management for providing the research environment and the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University for providing research tools and support.

References

  1. Many BT, Rizeq YK, Vacek J, et al. A contemporary snapshot of circumcision in US children’s hospitals. J Pediatr Surg. 2020;55(6):1134-1138. doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2020.02.031
  2. Rızalar S, Büyük ET, Yıldırım N. Children’s perspectives on the medical and cultural aspects of circumcision. Iranian J Pediatr. 2017;27:2. doi:10. 5812/ijp.7561
  3. Morris BJ, Krieger JN, Klausner JD. CDC’s male circumcision recommendations represent a key public health measure. Glob Health Sci Pract. 2017;5(1):15-27. doi:10.9745/GHSP-D-16-00390
  4. Suzan ÖK, Şahin ÖÖ, Baran Ö. Effect of puppet show on children’s anxiety and pain levels during the circumcision operation: a randomized controlled trial. J Pediatr Urol. 2020;16(4):490-e1. doi:10.1016/j.jpurol. 2020.06.016
  5. American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Circumcision. Circumcision policy statement. Pediatrics. 2012;130(3):585-586. doi:10. 1542/peds.2012-1989
  6. Luo W, Chen C, Zhou W, et al. Biophilic virtual reality on children’s anxiety and pain during circumcision: a randomized controlled study. J Pediatr Urol. 2023;19(2):201-210. doi:10.1016/j.jpurol.2022.10.023
  7. Büyük ET, Odabaşoğlu E, Uzsen H, Koyun M. The effect of virtual reality on children’s anxiety, fear, and pain levels before circumcision. J Pediatr Urol. 2021;17(4):567.e1. doi:10.1016/j.jpurol.2021.04.008
  8. Zavras N, Tsamoudaki S, Ntomi V, Yiannopoulos I, Christianakis E, Pikoulis E. Predictive factors of postoperative pain and postoperative anxiety in children undergoing elective circumcision: a prospective cohort study. Korean J Pain. 2015;28(4):244-253. doi:10.3344/kjp.2015. 28.4.244

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Urology

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 16, 2025

Submission Date

July 16, 2025

Acceptance Date

August 14, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 8 Number: 5

APA
Çevik Özdemir, H. N., Tuncer, A. A., & Kılıç, İ. (2025). The effect of immersive virtual reality and music on anxiety, fear, and pain during circumcision surgery in children: a randomized controlled study. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, 8(5), 852-858. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1744007
AMA
1.Çevik Özdemir HN, Tuncer AA, Kılıç İ. The effect of immersive virtual reality and music on anxiety, fear, and pain during circumcision surgery in children: a randomized controlled study. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2025;8(5):852-858. doi:10.32322/jhsm.1744007
Chicago
Çevik Özdemir, Hamide Nur, Ahmet Ali Tuncer, and İbrahim Kılıç. 2025. “The Effect of Immersive Virtual Reality and Music on Anxiety, Fear, and Pain During Circumcision Surgery in Children: A Randomized Controlled Study”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 8 (5): 852-58. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1744007.
EndNote
Çevik Özdemir HN, Tuncer AA, Kılıç İ (September 1, 2025) The effect of immersive virtual reality and music on anxiety, fear, and pain during circumcision surgery in children: a randomized controlled study. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 8 5 852–858.
IEEE
[1]H. N. Çevik Özdemir, A. A. Tuncer, and İ. Kılıç, “The effect of immersive virtual reality and music on anxiety, fear, and pain during circumcision surgery in children: a randomized controlled study”, J Health Sci Med / JHSM, vol. 8, no. 5, pp. 852–858, Sept. 2025, doi: 10.32322/jhsm.1744007.
ISNAD
Çevik Özdemir, Hamide Nur - Tuncer, Ahmet Ali - Kılıç, İbrahim. “The Effect of Immersive Virtual Reality and Music on Anxiety, Fear, and Pain During Circumcision Surgery in Children: A Randomized Controlled Study”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 8/5 (September 1, 2025): 852-858. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1744007.
JAMA
1.Çevik Özdemir HN, Tuncer AA, Kılıç İ. The effect of immersive virtual reality and music on anxiety, fear, and pain during circumcision surgery in children: a randomized controlled study. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2025;8:852–858.
MLA
Çevik Özdemir, Hamide Nur, et al. “The Effect of Immersive Virtual Reality and Music on Anxiety, Fear, and Pain During Circumcision Surgery in Children: A Randomized Controlled Study”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, vol. 8, no. 5, Sept. 2025, pp. 852-8, doi:10.32322/jhsm.1744007.
Vancouver
1.Hamide Nur Çevik Özdemir, Ahmet Ali Tuncer, İbrahim Kılıç. The effect of immersive virtual reality and music on anxiety, fear, and pain during circumcision surgery in children: a randomized controlled study. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2025 Sep. 1;8(5):852-8. doi:10.32322/jhsm.1744007

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