Kastamonu University receives TÜBİTAK funding for VR pain management study

Kastamonu University has secured funding from TÜBİTAK under the 1002-A Fast Support Module for a research project focused on non-pharmacological postoperative pain management. Led by Research Assistant Sabri Okan Demiryürek, the study investigates the combined effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) distraction applications and breathing exercises.

The one-year randomized controlled trial will be conducted at the Kastamonu Training and Research Hospital. It aims to evaluate how VR-supported content, such as nature landscapes or interactive games, combined with controlled breathing, affects pain levels, anxiety, and analgesic requirements in 82 patients undergoing their first laparoscopic abdominal surgery.

The project team includes researcher Dr. Yasin Alper Yıldız from Kastamonu University and advisor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zeliha Özdemir Köken from Hacettepe University. The total support amount for the study is 36,000 TL.