A game changer: Virtual reality reduces pain and anxiety in children


Date:
August 25, 2021
Source:
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Summary:
Randomized clinical trial shows that engaging in virtual reality
can significantly reduce pain and anxiety in children undergoing
intravenous catheter placement.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
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 Openshows 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." Additional authors on the publication include: Michelle SooHoo, PhD, and Andrea M. Laikin, PhD; Arianna S. Lane, BA;
Margaret J. Klein, MS, of The Saban Research Institute of Children's
Hospital Los Angeles.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Children's_Hospital_Los_Angeles. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Jeffrey I. Gold, Michelle SooHoo, Andrea M. Laikin, Arianna S. Lane,
Margaret J. Klein. Effect of an Immersive Virtual
Reality Intervention on Pain and Anxiety Associated With
Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Placement in the Pediatric
Setting. JAMA Network Open, 2021; 4 (8): e2122569 DOI:
10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.22569 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825143034.htm

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