Anxiety, Fear, Procedural Pain
Conditions
Keywords
virtual reality, tablet, children, fear, anxiety
Brief summary
This randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of virtual reality and tablet-based audiovisual distraction on pain, anxiety, and fear in children undergoing intravenous cannulation in a pediatric emergency department. Children aged 7 to 12 years were randomly assigned to three groups: virtual reality, tablet, and control. During intravenous cannulation, children in the virtual reality group watched an entertaining video using a virtual reality headset, while children in the tablet group watched the same video on a tablet. Children in the control group received routine care without an audiovisual distraction intervention. Pain, anxiety, and fear were assessed using age-appropriate validated scales. The study compared the effects of the two distraction methods with routine care and with each other.
Detailed description
The study was designed as a randomized controlled trial involving children aged 7 to 12 years who required intravenous cannulation in a pediatric emergency department. Eligible participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to a virtual reality group, a tablet group, or a control group. Children assigned to the virtual reality group watched an entertaining audiovisual video using a virtual reality headset during intravenous cannulation. Children assigned to the tablet group watched the same video on a tablet during the procedure. Children in the control group underwent intravenous cannulation according to the routine clinical practice of the emergency department without an audiovisual distraction intervention. Anxiety and fear were assessed immediately before intravenous cannulation and again five minutes after the procedure. Pain was assessed immediately after intravenous cannulation. The primary purpose of the study was to determine whether virtual reality and tablet-based distraction reduced procedure-related pain, anxiety, and fear and to compare the effectiveness of these interventions.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALVirtual Reality Distraction
Children in the virtual reality group received virtual reality-based distraction during intravenous cannulation. A virtual reality headset was used to divert the child's attention from the procedure.
BEHAVIORALTablet Distraction
Children in the tablet group watched an age-appropriate cartoon on a tablet during intravenous cannulation to divert their attention from the procedure.
Sponsors
Aydin Adnan Menderes University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to the virtual reality, tablet, or control group.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
7 Years to 12 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* It was that the child belonged to the 7-12 age group and was fully conscious.
Exclusion criteria
* Children with hearing, cognitive, or visual impairments; children unaccompanied by a parent; children with whom communication cannot be established; and children with critical health issues and/or conditions requiring immediate intervention.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pain During Intravenous Cannulation | Immediately after intravenous cannulation | Pain intensity was assessed using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale. The scale consists of six facial expressions representing increasing levels of pain. Scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater pain intensity. Pain was assessed immediately after intravenous cannulation. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Anxiety Before and After Intravenous Cannulation | Immediately before and immediately after intravenous cannulation | Anxety was assesed using the scale .Higher scores indicate greater anxiety. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed