Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the patient population as a whole and according to gender

Sociodemographic characteristics

Age, med (IQR)

42

(35.5–55.5)

41.5

(36–56)

42.5

(34.5–56)

0.829

Gender, n (%)

  Male

20

(38.5)

0

(0.0)

20

(100.0)

  Female

32

(61.5)

32

(100.0)

0

(0.0)

Highest education level, n (%)

  No formal education

1

(1.9)

1

(3.1)

0

(0.0)

  Obligatory

10

(19.2)

4

(12.5)

6

(30.0)

  Secondary

18

(34.6)

14

(43.8)

4

(20.0)

  Tertiary

23

(44.2)

13

(40.6)

10

(50.0)

0.184

Glasses, n (%)

22

(42.3)

15

(46.9)

7

(35.0)

0.399

Prior experience in VR, n (%)

22

(42.3)

13

(40.6)

9

(45.0)

0.756

Pain characteristics

Pain localisation, n (%)

  Extremities

15

(28.8)

9

(28.1)

6

(30.0)

  Abdomen

12

(23.1)

5

(15.6)

7

(35.0)

  Head

8

(15.4)

7

(21.9)

1

(5.0)

  Back

5

(9.6)

3

(9.4)

2

(10.0)

  Chest

5

(9.6)

4

(12.5)

1

(5.0)

  Neck

2

(3.8)

2

(6.2)

0

(0.0)

  Pelvis

1

(1.9)

0

(0.0)

1

(5.0)

  Other

4

(7.7)

2

(6.2)

2

(10.0)

0.324

Trauma-associated pain, n (%)

16

(30.8)

11

(34.4)

5

(25.0)

0.476

Tumor-associated pain, n (%)

0

(0.0)

0

(0.0)

0

(0.0)

Neuralgiform pain, n (%)

1

(1.9)

1

(3.1)

0

(0.0)

0.425

Duration of pain, n (%)

  Acute < 24 h

16

(30.8)

9

(28.1)

7

(35.0)

  Subacute > 24 h

32

(61.5)

21

(65.6)

11

(55.0)

  Chronic > 3 months

4

(7.7)

2

(6.2)

2

(10.0)

0.726

Triage level, n (%)

  2 (urgent)

2

(3.8)

2

(6.2)

0

(0.0)

  3 (semi-urgent)

48

(92.3)

29

(90.6)

19

(95.0)

  4 (non-urgent)

1

(1.9)

0

(0.0)

1

(5.0)

  5 (follow-up)

1

(1.9)

1

(3.1)

0

(0.0)

0.321

Pain level, pre [NRS 0–10], med (IQR)

4.5

(3–7)

5

(3–7.5)

4

(3–5.5)

0.255

Pain bearable, pre, n (%)

45

(86.5)

27

(84.4)

18

(90.0)

0.563

Anxiety level, pre [NRS 0–10], med (IQR)

4

(2–5)

5

(2–6)

3.5

(1–5)

0.205

PROMIS anxiety total, pre, med (IQR), [scores ranging from 8–40]^a

14

(11–21)

18

(12–26)

12.5

(9.5–14)

0.002

Pain level, pre [NRS 0–10], med (IQR)

4.5

(3–7)

5

(3–7.5)

4

(3–5.5)

0.255