Virtual Reality for Pain and Anxiety in Children
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation of virtual reality (VR) in pain and anxiety reduction in inpatient paediatric venepuncture and cannulation.
IRAS ID
275354
Contact name
Indraneel Banerjee
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 0 months, 26 days
Research summary
Virtual Reality (VR) is a computer generated simulation of a 3 dimensional environment around the viewer. VR has been used to simulate real-world experiences with applications in gaming and entertainment. VR has been used as a tool to reduce pain and anxiety in medicine. VR may be applied to reduce pain and anxiety in children undergoing painful medical procedures through distraction. While some groups outside the UK have demonstrated benefit from using VR prior to surgery, there is no evidence of efficacy of VR in children admitted to a hospital and undergoing intravenous cannulation and/or venepuncture.
Our group aims to study the application of VR headsets (VRH) using off-the shelf software in children admitted to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital for a variety of reasons and investigate if:
1. VRH is acceptable and feasible to patients and families admitted to a children's hospital
2. VRH reduces perceived and reported pain and anxiety during intravenous cannulation/venepuncture
3. VRH affects heart rate before, during and after the painful procedure
4. VRH generates positive feedback from the clinician undertaking the procedure.
The study will be conducted in a single site hospital in 32 children (age 5-12 years) over a 3 week period and will be funded by a digital technology in health grant. The sponsor for the study will be Manchester University Hospitals Foundation Trust in partnership with the University of Manchester.
Data will be collected through
1. a combination of responses of questions ascertaining acceptability/feasibility
in children and their parents
2. Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale before and after the procedure
3. qualitative feedback from children, parents and clinicians
Data will be used to generate baseline data in diverse ages, genders, ethnic and cultural backgrounds in preparation for a future randomised controlled trial involving larger number of children.REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/NE/0072
Date of REC Opinion
1 Jul 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion