Effectiveness of Virtual Reality on Pain During PIVC Insertion in the Emergency Room
 "Effectiveness of Virtual Reality on Pain During PIVC Insertion in the Emergency Room")
Study Overview
This randomized clinical trial assessed whether virtual reality (VR) could reduce pain and procedure-related distress in children undergoing peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) insertion in emergency departments. Children aged 4 to 14 years were randomly assigned to receive either standard care or VR distraction using a calming ocean film during the procedure.
Key Findings
Pain Reduction: Children who used VR experienced significantly less pain compared to the control group (RR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.45-0.72).
Stratified Effectiveness: Younger children (ages 4-8) showed greater pain reduction (RR: 0.53) than older ones (ages 9-14) (RR: 0.63).
Lower Distress: VR also reduced behavioral distress during the procedure, especially in the younger age group.
Tolerability: Only 9% of children in the VR group discontinued due to poor tolerance; no adverse events were reported.
Implications
This study demonstrates that virtual reality can be a safe, effective, and non-pharmacological tool to reduce both pain and distress in pediatric emergency settings. The findings support the integration of immersive technologies into routine care for young patients undergoing PIVC insertion, particularly those under age 8.
Authors: Patrícia Fernandes Albeirice da Rocha, Luciano Marques dos Santos, Amanda Ullman, Karin Plummer, Mari Takashima, Michel Zaghi Vitor, Patrícia Kuerten Rocha
