Pediatric Surgical Patients
Conditions
Keywords
pediatrics, nursing, fear, pain, preoperative preparation, virtual reality
Brief summary
Preoperative fear and postoperative pain are common problems in children undergoing surgery and may adversely affect perioperative outcomes. Nonpharmacological, child-centered interventions that support emotional preparation are increasingly emphasized in pediatric nursing care. :To investigate the effects of virtual reality on preoperative fear and postoperative pain in children aged 5-12 years undergoing surgery.This randomized controlled study was conducted in accordance with the CONSORT guidelines. A total of 74 children were randomly assigned using block randomization to either the Educational Animation (VR) group (n = 36) or the control group (n = 38). Data were collected using an information form, the Children's Fear Scale, and the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale. Preoperative fear was assessed by child, nurse, and researcher ratings, while postoperative pain was evaluated at two time points by parents, nurses, and the researcher. No significant differences were found between the VR and control groups in preoperative fear scores based on child, nurse, or researcher assessments (p \> .05). However, within the VR group, preoperative fear scores significantly decreased after the intervention across all evaluators (p \< .001). Postoperative pain scores were significantly lower in the VR group compared with the control group at both postoperative assessments according to parent, nurse, and researcher ratings (p \< .05 for all). VR-based educational interventions appear to be an effective and feasible, nurse-led nonpharmacological approach for reducing preoperative fear and postoperative pain in pediatric surgical patients. Integrating VR into routine preoperative nursing care may enhance children's perioperative experiences and support child-centered care practices.
Interventions
OTHERvirtual reality
Children in the VR group viewed the preoperative preparation video, after which fear levels were reassessed to determine the immediate effect of the intervention.
Sponsors
Ege University
Izmir Bakircay University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
5 Years to 12 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* child and parent provided informed consent, * the child was aged 5-12 years, * scheduled to undergo surgery for the first time
Exclusion criteria
* they had any chronic medical illness, * exhibited cognitive impairment or mental retardation, * had previously undergone any surgical intervention, * were scheduled for a complex surgical procedure
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Preoperative Fear measured by the Children's Fear Scale (CFS) | Preoperative period (immediately before surgery) | The Children's Fear Scale is a validated self-report tool consisting of five facial expressions representing increasing levels of fear. Scores range from 0 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater fear. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Postoperative Pain measured by the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (WBFPRS) | Postoperative 1st hour | The Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale is a validated pain assessment tool scored from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed