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Cooperative Virtual Reality Gaming for Anxiety and Pain Reduction in Pediatric Patients and Their Caregivers During
Stefan Liszio1,2, Franziska Bäuerlein3, Jens Hildebrand2
1Center for Virtual and Extended Reality in Medicine, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Insights
Cooperative virtual reality (VR) gaming shows promise in reducing pediatric patient and caregiver anxiety and pain during medical procedures. This novel approach aims to improve shared experiences and strengthen trust in challenging hospital situations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric healthcare
- Medical technology
- Psychological interventions
Background:
- Hospitalization induces fear and pain in children, often managed with sedation that carries risks.
- Caregiver distress during pediatric medical procedures can worsen patient anxiety and pain.
- Existing interventions often overlook the emotional well-being of caregivers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a cooperative virtual reality (VR) game, "Sweet Dive VR" (SDVR), as a nonpharmacological method to reduce anxiety and pain in pediatric patients (ages 6-12) and their caregivers.
- To assess SDVR's impact during needle punctures and Kirschner-wire removal procedures.
- To investigate the potential of shared VR experiences to improve patient and caregiver emotional states.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, multicenter randomized clinical trial.
- Participants (pediatric patients and 1 caregiver) allocated to either the SDVR intervention or a control group (listening to waves).
- Data collected via self-reports (visual analog scales, questionnaires) and structured observational protocols assessing affect, pain, player/patient experience, and procedure flow.
Main Results:
- Enrollment of 39 patients and caregivers, with 28 completing the study as of November 2024.
- Data collection is ongoing, with preliminary findings not yet available.
Conclusions:
- Cooperative VR gaming, like SDVR, presents a promising strategy for managing pediatric patient and caregiver anxiety and pain.
- The intervention aims to create positive shared experiences and maintain trust during stressful medical events.
- This approach highlights the importance of addressing the emotional well-being of both children and their caregivers in healthcare settings.
Background:
The hospital experience is often marked by fear and pain, particularly for children undergoing medical procedures. Sedation is commonly used to alleviate patient anxiety, but it poses additional health risks. Caregivers, usually the parents, also experience emotional distress during the child's hospital stay, which can further exacerbate the child's anxiety and pain. While various interventions exist to ease patient distress, few consider the emotional well-being of caregivers.
Objective:
This study aims to explore the effectiveness of a cooperative virtual reality (VR) game as a novel nonpharmacological solution to reduce anxiety and pain for both pediatric patients and their caregivers during medical procedures. Specifically, we aim to investigate whether the VR game "Sweet Dive VR" (SDVR), designed for children aged between 6 and 12 years to play with 1 caregiver, can alleviate anxiety and pain during different types of needle punctures and Kirschner-wire removal.
Methods:
A prospective multicenter randomized clinical trial will be conducted. Eligible participants will be identified by scanning the hospital information system, and group allocation will follow stratified randomization. During the medical procedure, patients in the VR condition will play SDVR with a caregiver present, while patients in the control group will listen to a recording of gently crashing waves. Data collection will be carried out through self-reports of patients and caregivers using visual analog scales and questionnaires at 2 measurement time points: before and after the intervention. In addition, observation by the interviewers will occur during the intervention to capture emotional and pain reactions as well as interaction quality between patients and caregivers and smoothness of the procedure flow using a structured observation protocol. The measured variables will encompass patient affect and pain, caregiver affect, player experience, patient experience, and the flow of the procedure.
Results:
As of November 2024, we enrolled 39 patients and caregivers, 28 of whom completed the study. Data collection is still ongoing.
Conclusions:
Cooperative VR gaming, as exemplified by SDVR, emerges as a promising intervention to address anxiety and pain in pediatric patients while involving caregivers to support the emotional well-being of both parties. Our approach strives to foster positive shared experiences and to maintain trust between children and caregivers during emotionally challenging medical situations.
Trial Registration:
German Clinical Trial Register (DRKS) DRKS00033544; https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00033544.
International Registered Report Identifier (Irrid):
DERR1-10.2196/63098.
