Virtual restorative environment therapy as an adjunct to pain control during burn dressing changes: study protocol...

Area of Science:

• Pain Management
• Medical Technology
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Severe burn injuries cause significant pain, exacerbated by procedures like dressing changes.
• Psychological factors, anxiety, and environmental stimuli can intensify pain perception.
• Virtual Reality (VR) distraction utilizes engaging 3D content to divert attention from painful stimuli, with fMRI studies showing enhanced pain-control systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of a novel VR system (virtual restorative environment therapy - VRET) for burn dressing changes.
• To assess VRET's impact on pain during and after dressing changes compared to conventional analgesia.
• To compare three conditions: interactive VRET with analgesics, passive VRET with analgesics, and analgesics alone.

Main Methods:

• A within-subject crossover design was employed.
• A sample size of 25 was determined using the Monte Carlo method to detect a 33% reduction in pain scores.
• The study was registered under ISRCTN23330756 on February 25, 2014.

Main Results:

• The study is experiencing slower-than-predicted recruitment rates.
• Recruitment limitations stem from the nature of burn care, patient consent capacity, and VR equipment usability.
• A slower accrual rate suggests challenges in integrating VR technology into burn care settings.

Conclusions:

• Prior to implementing novel interactive technologies like VRET, thorough evaluation of the target population's characteristics and capabilities is essential.
• Ensuring the usability of VR interface devices and simulations is crucial for successful patient adoption.
• The study highlights the need to assess patient suitability for VR interventions in clinical settings, particularly for burn patients.