Application of a virtual reality prototype for pain relief of pediatric burn in Taiwan.

AIM This study examines the usability and effectiveness of virtual reality in reducing pain in wound-care procedures for pediatric burn patients in Taiwan. BACKGROUND Virtual reality has continuously gained prominence in the medical arena, for instance, the telepresence for surgery, the management of mental health disorders and pain control of the paediatric burn. Notwithstanding an increased application of virtual reality in the medical arena in North America, there have been no studies investigating its use for paediatric burn patients in Asia. METHODS This descriptive study has two phases: Phase I: the development of a virtual reality prototype. Phase II: the implementation of the prototype to discern its usability and efficacy with paediatric burn patients at a local hospital. RESULTS The findings suggest that a significant difference is found in the children's reported pain, with or without the virtual reality intervention, over the three phases: before, during and after the dressing change. However, less pain was noted in the intervention group during and after the dressing change. CONCLUSION Adding to the existing clinical value of virtual reality identifies the nature of and different children's responses to pain with the use of virtual reality. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE This study is significant since it demonstrates a difference in the child's response to pain based on the nature of presence and distraction. Moreover, given the evidence that a decrease in anxiety was experienced after the dressing change with virtual reality intervention, timing of using the virtual reality intervention before the child develops conditioning anxiety and anticipated pain for the procedure would be of importance.