The Effect of Virtual Reality Glasses on Pain on Intravenous Cannulatıon in Children

This randomized controlled experimental study was conducted to determine the effect of virtual reality glasses on reducing pain during vascular access in children. The study was conducted among children aged 7-12 years in a tertiary hospital. Children in the experimental group (n=35) and control group (n=35); Age, gender, class of education, previous hospitalization and vascular access experience criteria were selected similar (p>0.05). Data were collected with Child Descriptive Characteristics Form, Parent Descriptive Characteristics Form, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Revised Facial Expression Pain Scale (FPS-R), Intervention Monitoring Form, Child Behavior Observation Form, and Parent Behavior Observation Form. In the study, the children in the experimental group were shown a video with virtual reality glasses during the vascular access procedure. Before and after the study; The child and his parents were asked to evaluate the pain experienced/will experience during the procedure, the children's heart rate, O2 saturation, body temperature were measured, and the behaviors of the child and the parent during the procedure were evaluated. Data were used post-power analysis, descriptive statistics, Shapiro Wilk, Pearson chi-square, Mann Whitney U and Two-Related-Samples Tests. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant in data analysis.

Inclusion criteria

• between the ages of 7-12,
• Does not have a disease that causes chronic pain,
• Not taking any analgesic medication in the last 8 hours before the procedure,
• No mental or neurological disability,
• Having no visual or auditory problems that prevent you from applying the scales or watching videos,
• Does not have eye problems and/or does not use glasses to be able to wear VR glasses,
• The first vascular access procedure was performed during this hospitalization at the clinic,
• Vascular access opened on the first try,
• Speaking and understanding Turkish,
• Children whose parents and themselves agreed to participate in the study were included in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Does not understand the Turkish language
• the child is under 7 years old or 12 years older
• having vision, hearing or speech problems
• having a mental or neurological disability