Effects of Virtual Reality and Tablet Distraction During IV Cannulation in Children

Overview

This randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of virtual reality and tablet-based audiovisual distraction on pain, anxiety, and fear in children undergoing intravenous cannulation in a pediatric emergency department. Children aged 7 to 12 years were randomly assigned to three groups: virtual reality, tablet, and control. During intravenous cannulation, children in the virtual reality group watched an entertaining video using a virtual reality headset, while children in the tablet group watched the same video on a tablet. Children in the control group received routine care without an audiovisual distraction intervention. Pain, anxiety, and fear were assessed using age-appropriate validated scales. The study compared the effects of the two distraction methods with routine care and with each other.

The study was designed as a randomized controlled trial involving children aged 7 to 12 years who required intravenous cannulation in a pediatric emergency department. Eligible participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to a virtual reality group, a tablet group, or a control group. Children assigned to the virtual reality group watched an entertaining audiovisual video using a virtual reality headset during intravenous cannulation. Children assigned to the tablet group watched the same video on a tablet during the procedure. Children in the control group underwent intravenous cannulation according to the routine clinical practice of the emergency department without an audiovisual distraction intervention. Anxiety and fear were assessed immediately before intravenous cannulation and again five minutes after the procedure. Pain was assessed immediately after intravenous cannulation. The primary purpose of the study was to determine whether virtual reality and tablet-based distraction reduced procedure-related pain, anxiety, and fear and to compare the effectiveness of these interventions.