Effects of Interventions on Child's Pain, Physiological, and Psychological Responses During Venous Catheterization

Summary

The study aimed to determine the effects of virtual reality headsets and on-screen video viewing methods on physiological parameters (heart rate, oxygen saturation, and respiration), procedural pain, fear, and emotional reactions during peripheral venous catheter placement in children aged 7-12.

A parallel-group, repeated-measurement (pretest, interim, and post-test) randomized controlled trial was conducted between January 18 and June 19, 2025, with children aged 7-12 (Virtual Reality Headset Group-VRHG=22, On-screen Video Viewing Group-OVVG=22, Control Group-CG=22) who were followed in the paediatric emergency department of a university hospital in Konya. The data collection tools in the study were: Information Form, Physiological Parameters Assessment Form, Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (WB-FPRS), Children's Fear Scale (CFS), and Children's Emotional Manifestation Scale (CEMS) were used. Two minutes before the peripheral venous catheter placement procedure, the "Under the Sea" video was shown to VRHG and OVVG, and it continued for two minutes after the procedure. Routine hospital practice was continued for the CG. Data were entered into SPSS-25.0, and descriptive statistics, chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis, one-way ANOVA, one-way ANOVA for repeated measures, and two-way ANOVA were used for data analysis. Statistical significance was set at 0.05.

Conditions

• Patient
• Child

Interventions

OTHER

Virtual Reality Headset Group (VRHG)

The child and their family in this group were given information about virtual reality goggles, infection control materials (a disposable surgical cap and a virtual reality goggle pad), a saturation device, and an underwater video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEkUy7a8vfI). The headset was disinfected before the procedure. The virtual reality goggles were adjusted to fit the child's head, and the lens was adjusted according to the child's feedback to ensure video clarity. The video began 2 minutes before the peripheral venous catheter placement procedure. The peripheral venous catheter placement was performed by the ward head nurse. After the peripheral venous catheter was placed, the child watched the video for another two minutes. The child's total video viewing time was 4 minutes. The headset was disinfected after the procedure.

OTHER

On-screen Video Viewing Group (OVVG)

The materials to be used for the child and their family in this group, including a phone screen, screen holder, headphones, infection control materials (ear cap), a saturation device, and a submarine video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEkUy7a8vfI), were introduced.Before the procedure, the phone screen, screen holder, and headphones were disinfected. After the phone screen was placed in the holder, it was placed on a table 50 cm away from the child's eye level in the area where the procedure would be performed. The child's ability to see the screen properly was assessed. Based on the child's feedback, the table was set to 45-55 cm. The headphones to be used in the procedure were placed appropriately on the child's head and ears. The headphones' volume was adjusted to the appropriate level for the child based on the child's feedback. The video began 2 minutes before the peripheral venous catheter placement procedure. The peripheral venous catheter placement procedure was performed

OTHER

Control Group (CG)

In the pediatric emergency department, no interventions beyond standard service routines for peripheral venous access were performed; however, for this study, CG components and a saturation device were introduced. Peripheral venous placement was performed by the registered service supervisor.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ali Yıldız

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Sevil Özkan, Assist Prof · Selcuk University Faculty of Nursing

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

7 Years

Max Age

12 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-01-18

Primary Completion

2025-06-19

Completion

2025-07-18

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations