The Effect of VR on Pain, Anxiety And Fear During Venipuncture in Children

The use of non-pharmacological applications such as virtual reality, and bubbles are recommended in intravenous interventions. There are very few studies evaluating the effect of non-pharmacological applications in intravenous localization. This study was planned as a randomized controlled trial. The effects of virtual reality and bubble application on pain, fear, anxiety, procedure time, and crying time in intravenous insertion were evaluated. Children (105) aged 6-12 years who were treated in a children's hospital and underwent intravenous placement were randomized to virtual reality, bubbles, and control groups. Distraction techniques such as asking questions and talking were used with the children in the control group. Study data were collected using the Child Anxiety Scale-Conditioning (CAS-D), Child Fear Scale, and Visual Analogue Scales (VAS).

Virtual reality: The child was given a comfortable position. A nurse independent from the study assessed the child with the Child Anxiety Scale-Condition (CAS-D), Child Fear Scale, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) before the procedure. The child was fitted with virtual reality goggles and a video of the child's choice was shown. One of the videos was a video of visiting animals in the zoo, while the other video was an aquarium video containing colorful fish and creatures under the sea. The zoo visit video is 3 minutes 51 seconds and the aquarium visit video is 11 minutes 55 seconds. Two minutes after the child started watching the video, peripheral catheter insertion was started. During the procedure, the same nurse, who was independent of the study, assessed the child with the Child Anxiety Scale-Condition(CAS-D), Child Fear Scale, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and recorded the duration of the procedure and the child's crying (how many seconds it lasted)

Bubbles: The child was given a comfortable position. A nurse independent from the study assessed the child with the Child Anxiety Scale-Condition(CAS-D), Child Fear Scale, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) before the procedure. The child was given a colorful, lighted bubble gun. Two minutes after the child used the colored-light bubble gun, peripheral catheter insertion was started. During the procedure, the same nurse, who was independent of the study, assessed the child with the Child Anxiety Scale-Condition (CAS-D), Child Fear Scale, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and recorded the duration of the procedure and the child's crying (how many seconds it lasted).

Control: The child was given a comfortable position. A nurse independent from the study assessed the child with the Child Anxiety Scale- Condition (CAS-D), Child Fear Scale, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) before the procedure. Peripheral catheter insertion was started. Distraction techniques such as asking questions and talking were used during the procedure. During the procedure, the same nurse, who was independent of the study, evaluated with the Child Anxiety Scale- Condition (CAS-D), Child Fear Scale, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and recorded the duration of the procedure and the crying status of the child (how many seconds it lasted).

Inclusion criteria

• The child was treated at the Ege University Medical Faculty Children's Hospital, Between the ages of 6 and 12, Peripheral catheter insertion Both parents and themselves speak and understand Turkish, and It was determined as volunteering to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

Children under 6 years of age or over 12 years of age Children treated with analgesics Sedated children