Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 24, 2026

Behavioral Training Procedures for Head-fixed Virtual Reality in Mice
06:27

Behavioral Training Procedures for Head-fixed Virtual Reality in Mice

Published on: September 6, 2024

2.2K

A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Use of Virtual Reality for Needle-Related Procedures in Children and Adolescents

Stéphanie Dumoulin1,2, Stéphane Bouchard2,3,4, Jacqueline Ellis4

  • 11Université du Québec à Montréal, Department of Psychology, Montréal, Canada.

Games for Health Journal
|May 29, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Virtual reality (VR) significantly reduced children's fear of pain during medical procedures compared to Child Life (CL) and television (TV). While VR and CL improved pain intensity, VR showed higher patient satisfaction.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric emergency medicine
  • Pain management
  • Medical technology

Background:

  • Children frequently experience fear and distress during medical procedures like blood draws and IV placements.
  • Child Life (CL) interventions are the standard for non-medical pain management in pediatric settings.
  • Virtual reality (VR) shows promise as an effective distraction tool for pediatric procedural pain.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of VR distraction for children undergoing medical procedures.
  • To compare VR distraction against a Child Life (CL) program and watching television (TV).

Main Methods:

  • 59 children (aged 8-17) in an emergency department were randomized into three groups: VR, CL, or TV.
  • Pain intensity and fear of pain were measured using visual analog scales before and after the procedure.
  • Patient satisfaction was assessed post-intervention.

Main Results:

  • All groups showed significant reductions in pain intensity and fear of pain.
  • VR distraction led to a significantly greater reduction in fear of pain compared to CL and TV.
  • VR distraction did not significantly reduce pain intensity more than CL or TV, but patient satisfaction was higher than TV and comparable to CL.

Conclusions:

  • Virtual reality is an effective distraction technique for reducing fear of pain in children during medical procedures.
  • VR offers a promising alternative or adjunct to traditional Child Life interventions for pediatric pain management.
  • The study highlights the potential advantages of integrating VR into emergency departments for pediatric procedural care.

Keywords:
Child LifeChildrenDistractionPain analgesiaVirtual reality

More Related Videos

Using a Virtual Reality Walking Simulator to Investigate Pedestrian Behavior06:38

Using a Virtual Reality Walking Simulator to Investigate Pedestrian Behavior

Published on: June 9, 2020

5.2K
Author Spotlight: Enhancing Engineering Education via WebVR-Based Online Laboratories04:15

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Engineering Education via WebVR-Based Online Laboratories

Published on: February 23, 2024

1.6K

Related Concept Videos

Emerging Adulthood01:27

Emerging Adulthood

Jeffrey Arnett's concept of emerging adulthood offers a framework to understand the unique developmental stage between adolescence and full-fledged adulthood, generally from ages 18 to 25. This period is marked by extensive exploration and shifts in identity, relationships, and career choices, a process known in psychology as role experimentation. Emerging adulthood reflects the evolving cultural expectations surrounding adulthood and the dynamic process of personal transformation during...
649
Cognitive Development During Adolescence01:18

Cognitive Development During Adolescence

During adolescence, individuals experience significant cognitive development that enhances their understanding of others' emotions and thoughts, known as cognitive empathy. This period is marked by an increased ability to adapt to others' perspectives and a more nuanced understanding of others' mental states, a skill that is foundational for social problem-solving and conflict avoidance. The development of cognitive empathy relies heavily on the theory of mind — the...
563
Clinical Trials01:16

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are prospective experimental studies conducted on humans to determine the safety and efficacy of treatments, drugs, diet methods, and medical devices. Using statistics in clinical trials enables researchers to derive reasonable and accurate conclusions from the collected data, allowing them to make wise decisions in uncertain situations. In medical research, statistical methods are crucial for preventing errors and bias.
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
10.2K
Virtual Work01:20

Virtual Work

The principle of virtual work states that if a body is in static and dynamic equilibrium, then the sum of all the virtual work done by all external forces and couple moments for any given virtual displacement must be zero.
In static equilibrium, a body can experience an imaginary or virtual movement, such as displacement or rotation. The virtual work done by a force is equal to the dot product of force and virtual displacement in the direction of the force. When it comes to virtually rotating a...
1.4K
Clinical Trials: Overview01:11

Clinical Trials: Overview

Clinical development focuses on how the drug will interact with the human body and encompasses four key phases of clinical trials, each serving a specific purpose in assessing the safety and effectiveness of new drugs. These phases overlap and build upon one another. Phase I involves a small group of healthy volunteers (typically 20-80 individuals) or, in cases where significant toxicity is expected, patients with the targeted disease, such as cancer or AIDS. The volunteers are tested for...
4.7K
Trial and Error and Algorithm01:12

Trial and Error and Algorithm

A problem-solving strategy is a plan of action used to find a solution. Different strategies have distinct action plans. Trial and error involves trying different solutions until one works. For instance, to fix a broken printer, you might check ink levels, ensure the paper tray isn't jammed, and verify the printer's connection to your laptop. This method can be time-consuming but is commonly used. Thomas Edison, for example, used trial and error to find a suitable filament for the light...
403