Can virtual reality coach pregnant women toward healthier habits?
NCT ID NCT07096427
First seen Sep 14, 2026 · Last updated Sep 18, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
Researchers are testing whether prenatal education delivered through immersive virtual reality videos helps pregnant women adopt healthier lifestyle behaviors. The trial enrolls first-time mothers at 12 to 16 weeks of pregnancy and assigns them to virtual reality lessons, printed booklets, or routine care. Both education groups also receive monthly motivational phone calls. The study measures changes in nutrition, physical activity, stress management, and other health behaviors, along with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- prenatal education based on Pender's Health Promotion Model, delivered through immersive 360-degree virtual reality videos
- What this could lead to
- If it works, virtual reality lessons could become an engaging way to help pregnant women eat better, stay active, and manage stress. Clinics might offer them alongside standard prenatal care.
- What could go wrong
- The trial is small and runs at two clinics in Istanbul, so results may not apply everywhere. Virtual reality headsets can cause dizziness or discomfort, and some women may not tolerate or enjoy the sessions.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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102 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Apr 2025
- Finished
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Feb 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 35 years
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Pregnant women aged 18-35 years * Being at 12-16 weeks of gestation at enrollment * Being primigravida * Having no chronic disease or health condition affecting healthy lifestyle behaviors * Being able to communicate and provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Having a high-risk pregnancy at enrollment, including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, multiple pregnancy, or threatened preterm labor * Having a psychiatric disorder or communication impairment that could prevent participation * Having previously participated in a similar educational program
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Gençosman Aile Sağlığı Merkezi
Istanbul, Güngören, 34165, Turkey (Türkiye)
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Kagithane 13 Nolu Aile Sağlığı Merkezi
Istanbul, Kagithane, 34408, Turkey (Türkiye)
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