The Effect of Using Virtual Reality on Pain, Fear, and Anxiety in School-Age Children During Venipuncture: A Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Pain, fear, and anxiety are common during invasive procedures in children. Virtual reality (VR), an attention-distraction method based on cognitive and behavioral techniques, has been increasingly used to reduce these responses. This randomized controlled trial investigated the effect of VR glasses on pain, fear, and anxiety in school-age children undergoing venipuncture (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06727149). Method: This study was conducted between September 2022 and May 2023 in the pediatric inpatient unit of a private hospital in western Turkey. Sixty children aged 6–12 years were randomly assigned to either the VR group (n = 30) or the control group (n = 30). Data were collected using the Child Information Form, Wong–Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale, Children’s Fear Scale, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 25. Results: The groups were comparable in terms of age and sex (p > 0.05). Following venipuncture, the VR group had significantly lower mean pain scores than the control group (0.68 ± 0.51 vs. 1.06 ± 0.62, t = 2.559, p = 0.013). The mean fear score was also significantly lower in the VR group (0.83 ± 0.50 vs. 1.12 ± 0.53, t = 2.157, p = 0.035). Similarly, anxiety scores were significantly lower in the VR group than in the control group (49.66 ± 7.29 vs. 52.86 ± 4.65, t = 2.025, p = 0.048). Conclusions: VR glasses effectively reduced venipuncture-related pain, fear, and anxiety in school-age children. These preliminary findings support VR as a promising non-pharmacological adjunct for reducing procedural pain, fear, and anxiety; given the single-center design and modest sample size, confirmation in larger, multicenter trials involving more diverse pediatric populations are needed before routine incorporation into pediatric care can be recommended.