Impact of Virtual Reality on Pain and Anxiety During Intravenous Cannulation Procedures Among Thalassemia Patients in UAE.

Patients were screened at the Dubai Thalassemia Center during routine consultations, where the investigator present explained the study's objectives to the patient.

After consulting the patients' medical records and ensuring that there were no exclusion criteria and that the inclusion criteria were met, the investigators introduced themselves to the patients and their families, offering them the chance to take part in the study.

The investigators then explained to patients that they were eligible for this study and described the study's aims. Written, signed consent was obtained from adult patients and guardians of minors with an informed consent form.

Additionally, patients aged <18 years were provided with an assent form with simplified information about the study. Investigators took the time to answer the patient's questions about the study's progress, expected results, and anticipated benefits.

No financial compensation was paid to participants in this study. Participation in this study had no financial consequences for the participant, nor on his/her health insurance, as this was part of the routine care and consultation for the patient.

Participants were free to withdraw from the study at any time during the procedure. In the event of withdrawal, the data collected up to that point was analyzed, so as not to compromise the value of the study. Regardless of withdrawal, the anonymity of all patient data was maintained.

Interventions Patients benefited from the standard of care during their first visit, then utilized the VR intervention during the cannulation in their second visit and finally, another VR session in the third.

We used therapeutic immersions curated by the France-based company Healthy Mind, with various environments, including elements of medical hypnosis and breathing exercises, tailored for use in invasive procedures.

For each patient, the overall duration of the study was 6-8 weeks to complete all three visits, considering the 3-4 week interval between their scheduled appointments at the thalassemia center.

It should be noted that appointments were postponed if the patient did not complete the routine cross-matching test prior to the intravenous cannulation procedure or did not show up for their appointments.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with a diagnosis of thalassemia
• Thalassemia patients undergoing intravenous cannulation procedure
• Patients aged >7 years (male, female, adult, pediatrics, national and non-national) at the Dubai Thalassemia Center

Exclusion criteria

Pregnant or nursing women

• Patients of legal age but subject to legal protection measures or unable to express their consent
• Patients suffering from uncontrolled epilepsy
• Patients with visual or auditory disorders
• Patients suffering from claustrophobia or motion sickness
• Patients with face infections
• Patients with dissociative psychiatric pathologies and/or autism