Impact of Virtual Reality on Fear and Pain in Pediatric Patients

Plain-language summary

Preoperative fear and postoperative pain are common problems in children undergoing surgery and may adversely affect perioperative outcomes. Nonpharmacological, child-centered interventions that support emotional preparation are increasingly emphasized in pediatric nursing care. :To investigate the effects of virtual reality on preoperative fear and postoperative pain in children aged 5-12 years undergoing surgery.This randomized controlled study was conducted in accordance with the CONSORT guidelines. A total of 74 children were randomly assigned using block randomization to either the Educational Animation (VR) group (n = 36) or the control group (n = 38). Data were collected using an information form, the Children's Fear Scale, and the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale. Preoperative fear was assessed by child, nurse, and researcher ratings, while postoperative pain was evaluated at two time points by parents, nurses, and the researcher. No significant differences were found between the VR and control groups in preoperative fear scores based on child, nurse, or researcher assessments (p \> .05). However, within the VR group, preoperative fear scores significantly decreased after the intervention across all evaluators (p \< .001). Postoperative pain scores were significantly lower in the VR group compared with the control group at both postoperative assessments according to parent, nurse, and researcher ratings (p \< .05 for all). VR-based educational interventions appear to be an effective and feasible, nurse-led nonpharmacological approach for reducing preoperative fear and postoperative pain in pediatric surgical patients. Integrating VR into routine preoperative nursing care may enhance children's perioperative experiences and support child-centered care practices.

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