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Published on: August 9, 2010
Virtual Reality Headset Use During Venipuncture in Children: Impact on Fear and Pain Levels
Atilla Güray1, Ayse Senay Sasihuseyinoglu2
1Department of Child Health and Diseases, Doruk Hospital, Bursa, Türkiye.
Insights
Virtual reality (VR) headsets significantly reduced children's fear and pain during venipuncture. This technology offers a promising approach to improve pediatric medical procedure experiences.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric medicine
- Medical technology
- Pain management
Background:
- Venipuncture is a common medical procedure causing fear and pain in children.
- Effective strategies are needed to mitigate pediatric procedural anxiety and discomfort.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) headsets in reducing fear and pain during pediatric venipuncture.
- To compare fear and pain levels in children using VR versus a control group.
Main Methods:
- A controlled experimental study involving 70 children aged 5-12 years, divided into VR and control groups.
- Fear assessed using the Children's Fear Scale (CFS); pain assessed using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale.
- Data collected from children, parents, and observers pre- and post-venipuncture.
Main Results:
- The VR group showed a statistically significant reduction in fear scores compared to the control group (P < .001).
- Children in the VR group reported significantly lower pain scores than the control group (P < .001).
- Parents and observers also noted significantly lower pain in the VR group.
Conclusions:
- Virtual reality headsets are effective in reducing both fear and pain associated with venipuncture in children.
- Implementing VR technology in clinical practice can enhance the patient experience during pediatric medical procedures.
Background:
Medical procedures, such as venipuncture, are among the most common causes of fear and pain in children. This study aimed to determine whether using a virtual reality (VR) headset during venipuncture reduces children's fear and pain.
Methods:
This controlled experimental study included 70 children aged 5-12 years (VR group = 35; control group = 35). Before venipuncture, each child, their parent, and an observer completed an interview-observation form and a fear scale. Following the procedure, the same participants completed both the fear and pain scales. The Children's Fear Scale (CFS) was used to assess fear levels, while the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale was used to evaluate pain levels. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS v25 software.
Results:
Analysis of preprocedure and postprocedure CFS scores showed a statistically significant reduction in fear in the VR group compared with the control group, as reported by the children (P < .001). Pain assessments indicated that the VR group had significantly lower pain scores than the control group in evaluations by children, parents, and observers (P < .001).
Conclusion:
The findings demonstrate that VR headsets effectively reduce both fear and pain in children undergoing venipuncture. Therefore, their use should be encouraged in clinical practice to improve the patient experience during medical procedures.
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