
A study at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles shows that engaging in VR can reduce pain and anxiety in children undergoing painful medical procedures and reduce the need for anesthesia.
It isn’t a matter of one needle puncture. Many children coming through the doors of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles are seen for chronic conditions and often require frequent visits. Painful procedures—like a blood draw or catheter placement—can cause anxiety and fear in patients. Now, a study published in JAMA Network Open shows that virtual reality can decrease pain and anxiety in children undergoing intravenous (IV) catheter placement.
For nearly two decades, Jeffrey I. Gold, PhD, an investigator at The Saban Research Institute of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, has been investigating the use of virtual reality (VR) as a technique to help children undergoing painful medical procedures. His research shows that the technology can have powerful effects. VR works so well that Children’s Hospital Los Angeles now offers it routinely for blood draws.
“Some patients don’t even realize that their blood is being drawn,” says Dr. Gold, who is also a Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology, Pediatrics, and Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at The Keck School of Medicine of USC. “Compare that to a child who is panicking and screaming, and it’s a no-brainer. We want kids to feel safe.”
In his recent publication, Dr. Gold’s team reports the results of a study to test whether VR could prevent pain and distress for patients undergoing peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) placement. The game is simple, but requires focus and participation. Patients in one group used VR throughout the procedure, while those in another group received standard of care, which includes simple distraction techniques and the use of a numbing cream. The patients who used VR reported significantly lower levels of pain and anxiety.
“We can actually reduce pain without the use of a medication,” says Dr. Gold. “The mind is incredibly powerful at shifting focus and actually preventing pain from being registered. If we can tap into that, we can make the experience much better for our kids.”
But the story is bigger than that.
This is one of the first studies to analyze the effects of VR not only from the patient perspective, but also from that of the clinician and the patient’s family or caregivers. All three of these groups reported a more positive experience with the use of VR. Dr. Gold calls this triangulation of data—gathering information from three perspectives in order to improve patient experience.
“We started this as a way to mitigate pain and overall distress in children. But caregivers and healthcare providers are also reporting improved outcomes,” adds Dr. Gold, “effectively treating the patient clearly has a ripple effect.”
Consider a typical scenario in which a child has a chronic illness and must routinely receive PIVC placement. A patient experiencing anxiety about her procedure may tense up, making it more difficult for the clinician to find a vein and insert the catheter. If multiple attempts are necessary, a child’s fear may amplify, causing a snowball effect, which in turn may impact medical adherence and ultimately long-term health outcomes.
If, on the other hand, the patient plays a virtual game while undergoing the procedure, she may relax and experience less pain, improving the overall experience for the child, the family, and the healthcare provider.
“Stress actually causes veins to constrict,” says Dr. Gold, “but you don’t need to know the physiology to know that it’s better to have a relaxed kid.”
The ripple effect goes further. A child’s experience during a visit sets the tone for future visits. If the experience feels traumatic, the child and family may be less likely to adhere with scheduled visits or may feel more stressed coming back to the hospital. “We don’t want a child’s healthcare experience to be another adverse childhood experience,” says Gold. Adverse childhood experiences, also called ACEs, can lead to poor health outcomes.
“We care about the healthcare experience that children have,” says Dr. Gold. “By reducing fear associated with routine procedures, we prepare the child to begin treatment with a more positive outlook, and this can affect their health for a lifetime.”
Original Article: A Game Changer: Virtual Reality Reduces Pain and Anxiety in Children
More from: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Virtual reality reduces pain
- The ultimate VR headset buyer’s guide
If you go back to the 1990s and start reading about "virtual reality," you’ll quickly realize that the term could refer to anything from a full Lawnmower Man simulation system to a 3D model on a ...
- Virtual Reality May Help Reduce Burn Victims’ Pain
Data from a small randomized study indicate that use of virtual reality headsets may reduce the pain scores of burn victims during dressing changes.
- Virtual Reality for Pain Management
Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging rehabilitation technology that has been employed in the management of acute and chronic pain of various origin. It is a promising effective intervention for ...
- Virtual reality training could reduce gender gap in some spatial tasks
According to an editorial that was recently published in the journal Frontiers in Virtual Reality, the difference is not solely ... In some cases, these actions reduce or even remove the gender gap ...
- Virtual Reality
The Quest 3 VR headset is an impressive piece of hardware. It is also not open; not in the way most of us understand the word. One consequence of this is the inability in general for developers or ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Virtual reality reduces pain
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Virtual reality reduces pain” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Virtual reality reduces anxiety
- Virtual Reality May Help Reduce Burn Victims’ Pain
Data from a small randomized study indicate that use of virtual reality headsets may reduce the pain scores of burn victims during dressing changes.
- A systematic review on the efficacy of virtual reality and gamification interventions for managing anxiety and depression
This systematic review examines and analyses the efficacy of virtual reality and gamification interventions in managing anxiety and depression. Incorporating gamification and persuasive technology ...
- New Virtual Reality Therapy Available To Help Reduce Pain & Anxiety During Dental Procedures
It can reduce pain, perception of pain ... Multiplying the benefits of virtual reality in healthcare In Canada, according to the Ontario Dental Association, many people experience some anxiety when ...
- New Virtual Reality Therapy Available To Help Reduce Pain & Anxiety During Dental Procedures
It can reduce pain ... the benefits of virtual reality in healthcare In Canada, according to the Ontario Dental Association, many people experience some anxiety when seeing their dentist.
- Social virtual reality helps to reduce feelings of loneliness and social anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic
Virtual reality (VR) provides users with an easy way to ... Social VR can be used as a valuable intervention to reduce feelings of loneliness and social anxiety. Future studies should continue to ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Virtual reality reduces anxiety
[google_news title=”” keyword=”virtual reality reduces anxiety” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]