Effect of Virtual Reality Goggles and Stress Ball Use on Pain and Fear During IV Catheterization in Children

Toros University75 enrolled

Overview

Although distraction methods such as virtual reality glasses, watching videos, watching cartoons, etc. have been reported to reduce pain in the literature, studies on which method is more effective in reducing pain are limited. Considering the developmental period characteristics, virtual reality glasses and stress ball squeezing may be effective in the 6-12 age group during painful intervention. However, no study has been found in the literature on which technique is more effective (9-23). Therefore, investigating the effects of virtual reality goggles and stress ball squeezing on pain and fear in children aged 6-12 years as a distraction method during intravenous catheterization may enable nurses to determine the technique with high clinical usefulness in pain management.

Provide a brief summary of the study, including the purpose, objectives, and brief methodology.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Pain, Procedural Anxiety Pain Management

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 6 YearsMax age: 12 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Children aged 6-12 years * Admitted to the pediatric unit of the hospital between June 20, 2024, and April 20, 2025 * Scheduled to undergo intravenous catheterization * Having parental consent through a signed informed consent form * Absence of mental or developmental retardation Exclusion Criteria: \- Children for whom the first attempt at intravenous catheterization was unsuccessful

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Pain Scores Assessed by the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale

Pain scores will be measured using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale. Scores will be recorded before, during, and after intravenous catheterization. Pain will be assessed immediately before the procedure (baseline), during the procedure (mid-procedure), and immediately after the procedure (post-procedure). Pain will be evaluated independently by the child (self-report), parent (observational), and researcher (observational).

Time frame: Baseline (before the procedure), Mid-procedure (during the procedure), Post-procedure (immediately after the procedure)

Change in Fear Scores Assessed by the Children's Fear Scale

Fear levels will be assessed using the Children's Fear Scale. Scores will be recorded before, during, and after intravenous catheterization. Fear will be assessed immediately before the procedure (baseline), during the procedure (mid-procedure), and immediately after the procedure (post-procedure). Fear will be evaluated independently by the child (self-report), parent (observational), and researcher (observational).