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.