Effect of virtual reality experience on distress in children admitted to the intensive care unit: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Introduction: Admission of children to the intensive care unit (ICU) can lead to a decline in ageappropriate behaviour and a rise in distress and anxiety. Virtual reality (VR) is a safe, cost-friendly, effective and acceptable treatment for medical or dental treatment related pain and emotional distress but its effect in decreasing distress in children admitted to the ICU is not well studied. Objective: To study the effect of VR experience on distress in children admitted to the ICU. Method: A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 30 children, aged 4-17 years, admitted to paediatric ICU (PICU) with 15 in intervention group and 15 in control group. Intervention group received 7 consecutive days of VR experience lasting 15 minutes. Control group received routine care provided in PICU. Distress was assessed using COMFORT Behaviour scale and anxiety using State Anxiety scale (STAI-CH) pre and post intervention. Results: Children in the intervention group showed a significant decrease in distress with a mean difference of 4.93 ± 2.12 within the intervention group and 3.20 ± 2.21 within the control group. The p-value was 0.0369 which is statistically significant. In the STAI-CH scores, the mean difference within the intervention group was 11.40 ± 5.58 and control group was 6.73 ± 4.50. The p-value was 0.0001 which is statistically significant. Conclusions: VR experience intervention is effective in decreasing distress in children admitted to the ICU.