Procedural Pain
Conditions
Keywords
Virtual Reality, Pediatric Emergency Department, Procedural Pain, Intravenous Cannulation, Venous Blood Sampling, Pain Management, Distraction Therapy
Brief summary
This study evaluates whether virtual reality (VR)-based distraction can reduce pain during intravenous cannulation and venous blood sampling in children treated in a pediatric emergency department. Children aged 6-11 years who required these procedures received either standard care or VR distraction using age-appropriate audiovisual content. The primary outcome was procedure-related pain measured by the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale. Secondary outcomes included procedural duration, cooperation, first-attempt success, behavioral distress, and parental satisfaction. The study also explored whether the effectiveness of VR was associated with patient engagement during the procedure.
Detailed description
Painful procedures such as intravenous cannulation and venous blood sampling are common in pediatric emergency departments and may lead to distress, anxiety, and negative healthcare experiences. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a non-pharmacological intervention that may reduce procedural pain through immersive distraction. This prospective quasi-experimental study was conducted in a tertiary pediatric emergency department between September 2024 and September 2025. A total of 150 children aged 6-11 years requiring intravenous cannulation or venous blood sampling were included. Participants were enrolled sequentially, with 100 children assigned to the VR group and 50 to standard care. The VR intervention consisted of age-appropriate audiovisual content delivered through a VR headset during the procedure. The primary outcome was procedure-related pain measured using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale. Secondary outcomes included procedural duration, cooperation, first-attempt success, behavioral distress, parental satisfaction, and VR response. The study aimed to assess whether VR distraction may improve procedural experience and reduce procedure-related pain in pediatric emergency settings.
Interventions
DEVICEVirtual Reality-Based Distraction
Participants received age-appropriate audiovisual distraction through a virtual reality headset (Meta Quest 3S) during intravenous cannulation or venous blood sampling. The intervention aimed to reduce procedural pain and distress by redirecting attention away from the procedure toward immersive VR content.
Sponsors
Ege University
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
6 Years to 11 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Children aged 6-11 years * Requirement for intravenous cannulation or venous blood sampling in the -pediatric emergency department * Ability to understand and engage with virtual reality content * Written informed consent obtained from parent or legal guardian
Exclusion criteria
* Visual or hearing impairment preventing VR use * Neurological or developmental disorders affecting communication or cooperation * Altered level of consciousness * Hemodynamic instability requiring immediate intervention * Previous participation in the study * Refusal of participation by the child or parent/legal guardian * Contraindications to virtual reality exposure (e.g., severe motion sickness or intolerance)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Procedure-related pain | Immediately after the procedure | Procedure-related pain assessed using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (WBFPS) following intravenous cannulation or venous blood sampling. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed