Effect of virtual reality distraction on venipuncture pain in children in the emergency room

Introduction: Virtual reality (VR) as a distraction strategy has been used in healthcare centers; however, the evidence is inconsistent in demonstrating VR's effect on pain control during venipuncture. Objective: To describe the effect of VR on pain during the venipuncture process in children and adolescents in a private institution in Bogotá. Materials and methods: An unblinded, randomized, experimental study was conducted in the emergency room of a fourth-level care facility. The sample consisted of 46 children and adolescents between the ages of 7 and 14. Twenty- three were randomly assigned to the experimental group with a VR headset and 23 to the control group. The dependent variable ‘pain’ was measured before, during, and after venipuncture using the visual analog scale (VAS) of pain. Results: Perceived pain is different before and after the procedure; however, using the VR headset did not show any statistical or clinical differences during the venipuncture procedure. Discussion: Variables such as vital signs, venipuncture time, and follow-up were important in measuring symptoms such as pain at venipuncture. Conclusion: VR can be used by nurses; however, more research must be done to demonstrate its effect on pain control during venipuncture, considering a greater power of the study, type of pain, and variables such as family support and nurses’ time of experience.

• Autores: Gómez-Neva, Maria Elizabeth; Briñez Ariza, Karol Johanna; Ibañez Rodríguez, Leidy Johana
• Tipo de recurso: Article of investigation
• Fecha de publicación: 2024
• Institución: Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales U.D.C.A
• Repositorio: Repositorio Institucional UDCA
• Idioma: eng; spa
• OAI Identifier: oai:repository.udca.edu.co:11158/6000
• Acceso en línea: https://repository.udca.edu.co/handle/11158/6000; https://doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.3385
• Palabra clave: 610 - Medicina y salud::618 - Ginecología, obstetricia, pediatría, geriatría; Realidad Virtual; Enfermería; Cuidado del Niño; Dolor Agudo
• Rights: openAccess
• License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode.es