Technology-assisted Pain Management in Pediatric and Adolescent Burn Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Burn injuries are one of the leading causes of disability in the pediatric and adolescent population globally. Current practice in pediatric burn management uses opioid analgesics as acute pain management. Technology-assisted pain management, including the application of video games and virtual reality (VR), offers an attractive alternative that can be used to help alleviate pain and anxiety in pediatric and adolescent patients with burns. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to update and collate the most recent evidence on the effectiveness of said technologies in reducing pain and anxiety in pediatric and adolescent burn patients.

The authors conducted a systematic search in the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, and ProQuest. Studies that applied any form of technology assistance and VR with participants 18 years or younger of age were included. Ten randomized controlled trials were included in the final analysis and were assessed with the primary outcome being the objective assessment of pain experienced by patients in said studies.

From the literature search conducted, 1224 articles were identified. Three reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts. Out of 1224 articles, 42 were included for full-text screen and review, and 32 were then excluded because they did not satisfy the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Nine randomized controlled trials and one quasi-experimental pilot study were included in the final systematic review and meta-analysis.

Findings from this study demonstrate that VR and other forms of technological assistance are promising and effective in reducing pain in pediatric and adolescent patients with burns.