Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 13, 2025
The Immersive Cleveland Clinic Virtual Reality Shopping Platform for the Assessment of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
Published on: July 28, 2022
Use of Virtual Reality for minor procedures in the Emergency Department: A scoping review
Robyn J McCahill1, Cate Nagle2, Patricia Clarke3
1Emergency Department, Mackay Hospital and Health Service, Mackay Hospital and Health Service, 475 Bridge Rd, Mackay, QLD 4740, Australia.
Background:
The objective of this review was to collate, summarise and report evidence on the use of VR as an interventional tool for pain and anxiety management during ED procedures.
Methods:
Guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) we searched Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus and PsychInfo databases, grey literature and reference lists of included studies.
Results:
From 162 articles, 4 fulfilled the selection criteria and demonstrated VR was effective as an intervention for management of pain and anxiety during ED procedures. The level of evidence was variable: 2 randomised controlled trials (RCT); a descriptive study; and a commentary on a literature review. Participants were aged 4-17 years and the sample sizes were small (n = 20, 59, 64). One RCT compared efficacy of VR to 2 other standard of care (SOC) distractors while the other RCT assessed for VR efficacy and safety. All four articles cited benefits of VR distraction as a procedural intervention in ED.
Conclusions:
A small number of studies involving children undergoing needle insertion in ED found VR to be a safe and effective means of managing procedural anxiety, providing a more effective strategy than standard care. Studies with larger samples, involving different procedures and across age groups are required.
